I looked around me at the silent scenery, the iridescent snow that can blind you in a moment, mountains that seemed to go on forever. It's been years since I'd seen this beautiful homeland of mine. The only sound was the crunching of the snow beneath my boots as I walked an invisible path. A chilling breeze blew up and I shivered. I was almost to the meeting point. Then I would see him again.

I had left my homeland almost 8 years ago to travel the world. Not my world of course, I'd been around it several times in my life, what with the clan wars that took place constantly. No, I visited the human world. I live in a separate world, one full of what the humans would call mystical creatures. We were supposedly figments of some poor human's insanity. The only people of my world that can travel to the human world are those of us who closely resemble humans. Other than my cat ears and tail, I look human.

My reason for traveling to their world was that I was tired of my homeland. We had been at war for many years. I had wanted to fight, but I was too young and was told to stay at the village and look after the young and the elderly. So I left. If I couldn't fight, then there was no reason for me to stay there. When I had reached the human world, I was at the age of 16 and they gladly accepted me into their troops. It was difficult hiding my "other appendages", but I got along. When they finally released me after 5 years, I decided to just live like a normal human, get a job, and maybe settle down there. But there was someone back home that needed me. I hadn't known if they were alive or not but it made me decide to stay alone.

After 2 years of "normality" I received a letter. It didn't have a post mark and its script was very close to old English, so I knew it was from my world. It read:

Dearest Haven,

We have returned victorious! The war has ended, and although

we have lost many, we have gained so much more. It would be my

greatest pleasure if you would return to me. How I have missed you

in all this bloodshed. If you do want to return to me after all this time, then I

would like to escort you home my self from a meeting point outside of our

village. I know that traveling between worlds is long, so meet me in one month

at our old fort on the south side of the village. If you do not come, I understand.

But if you do, I will be waiting.

Sincerely,

Pheonix

After reading the letter, I began to pack. He had been right, the trip was long, but for him, I would make the commute. The next morning I woke at dawn and left for my world.

So here I was, only a about a mile from the point he had mentioned. I sighed, thinking about him. Doing so, my pace quickened. On my back I wore a long cloak that hid my glorious long bow along with the sheath containing my arrows. In my world, the dangers are very real. Humans could not even imagine the beasts that roamed the forests of this world.

I adjusted my corset and the blouse beneath it. On my right leg was a leather knife holder that I had buckled around my thigh and the same on my left. I was only a few steps away when I heard something. I padded quickly to the cover of a large tree. I reached for one of my knives when a large wolf-like creature jumped in front of me and slashed at me. I quickly jumped out of its way and ran.

I ran south so as to get it away from the village. I could sense it pursuing me, jumping through the trees. It was catching up to me quickly. As i ran, i reached for my bow and loaded it with an arrow. I couldn't hear it following me and slid to a stop, my legs spread apart in a stable position and my bow at the ready. I sniffed the air but the smell of my village was floating on the wind. I closed my eyes and relaxed all senses aside from my sense of hearing and sense of smell.

I heard a slight rustle of leaves a few clicks to my right and in the air. I turned my ear in that direction and waited for it again. When I did hear it, it was much closer and i opened my eyes. With all of the trees, i was blind to its position. I turned to where i had last heard it and waited. I heard another creek, took a deep breath, and took the shot.

I heard a slight yelp and it dropped to the ground, my arrow poised in its thigh. It stood on its hind legs and i finally got a look at it. It was 7 feet tall with thick brown hair from head to toe and was extremely muscular. It had the head of a large dog and glowing yellow eyes. It growled at me a deep throaty noise and leaned over slightly, tightening its muscles. A werewolf. It glared at me as it ripped out the arrow and threw it aside.

I didnt have time to load another arrow so i began to back up, slow at first, then more quickly. I slipped on the ice and fell on my behind, starting to breath heavily in fear. I left my bow where it lay and started to crawl backwards. It took a step toward me, then another, then another. It was so close now that i could feel the heat emanating off of it. Drool dripped from its mouth as it lunged at me with a growl.

Then I heard a boom of a gunshot. It went straight through the wolves head mid jump and it flew sideways from the force. It fell to its side and its wolf exterior degraded into a small boy with shaggy brown hair, his eyes wide open, even in death. I looked to wear the shot came from and saw a tall man, about 6'2" standing there, holding what looked to be a chrome gun. He had short, straight hair that was parted to the right. His eyes were a gorgeous emerald green. He was wearing a long white coat,much like a duster, and black gloves.

I couldn't help staring at him. He was one of the most beautiful men I'd ever seen. As he walked closer i noticed he had 7 wide rings holding tightly onto the fold of his left ear. His jacket was opened at his waste, exposing long legs. He stood in front of me and smiled. Then i realized that i had just allowed myself be saved by a man like some stupid little damsel in distress.

He reached his hand out and i smacked it away. I stood up quickly and ran over to my bow and loaded it just as quickly with an arrow and pointed it at him. He frowned for a moment the smiled again.

"Now little minx, it's not polite to shoot your savior," he said in an annoyingly alluring voice.

"I only shoot those I don't trust. Besides, I could have saved myself," I replied shakily.

He walked over to me and leaned in, his face only inches from mine. I could feel his soft breath on my face. He smiled at me sweetly and put his finger on the head of my arrow and lowered it slowly. His eyes were looking straight into mine and they were so compelling that i didnt resist the push.

"Come now, Minx, just thank me and let it be done," he purred.

I glared at him, his sarcasm snapping me back to normal. I started to raise my bow again when another voice rose behind him. A voice i knew very well. The owner of the voice stepped up next to the stranger and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Dimitri, don't play with her. She will shoot you."

"I was just trying to see if it would work on her is all," the one called Dimitri replied, stepping away from me.

My eyes widened and i ran to embrace the newcomer. I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist and he put his arms around my shoulders.

"Pheonix..."i whimpered into his jacket, his shoulder length wavy blond hair tickeling the top of my head. I pulled away and then stood on the tips of my toes and kissed his lips softly. I heard Dimirti walk away from us. I peeked at him and he was leaning against a tree, arms crossed over his chest. I closed my eyes and continued the kiss and a few seconds later, he pulled away and kissed my forehead.

"I'm glad you decided to come, Haven," he whispered lovingly. Then he turned and looked at the carcass of the naked dead boy a few feet away. He walked over to it and studied it. Dimitri soon crossed over and stood beside him.

"What a shame. He's so young. Was there much difference in this one than the others?" Pheonix inquired.

"This one was weaker than the others," he leaned over and pointed to a large gash in the boys side," the pack seemed to have deemed him unworthy. Looks like they removed him not long ago. Do you think he's a newborn?" Dimitri looked at Pheonix questioningly.

"Perhaps. If we find his mark,you can probably judge how young he is by looking at it's depth," Pheonix explained.

Dimitri kneeled on one knee and studied the boys arms and legs. Then he grabbed the boys hand, and on the palm was a small sort of design, very dark. It was a sort of tribal mark. Dimitri peered at it quizzically. "The boy is an elder. Almost to the point of pure blood. They can't just overcast a wolf of this position. This is very strange," Dimitri explained. He stood and backed away slightly.

Phoenix nodded," That is odd. We should consult with your leaders, they'll want to know about this. Should we discard of the body?"

Dimitri nodded and removed his glove, placing it in his pocket and stretched out his arm, looking as if he was reaching for something. The air around us suddenly became very clear and it started to swirl around Dimitri, causing his hair and jacket to blow in the soft gusts. Then i noticed it, the small thorn vines coursing slowly to his finger tips, plastered to his skin like it was part of it. Once it covered most of his exposed skin, a sword appeared and sat still in the air. Dimitri reached for it and held it familiarly in his hand. The sword was long and thin, the silver almost liquid. There were inscriptions along the sword but i couldn't read them. They were in Latin.

He walked closer to the boys carcass and arranged it into a more peaceful position, his body laying straight on his back and his eyes closed. Then, Dimitri plunged the sword into the boys chest. Rose vines spread over the boys body, simply sprouting out of the ground and covering him completely. Dimitri knelt beside the body and placed his hand over where the boys face was and whispered in a deep, forbidding voice," May docebit vos in lucem aeternitatis."

The body of vines glowed slightly,and started to sink into the earth. All that remained was a single black rose. I watched in silence and felt a tear slide down my cheek. This man was of a people that are less than few, even in this world. To have an active and young one such as him in my presence was a feeling above glorious. This man wasn't just a savior.

When he finished, he pulled his glove back on and turned to me, the sword having already dissolved into thin air. His eyes were still slightly aglow from what he'd just done. A moment before his face had been light and happy. Now it was covered in seriousness and he seemed to be very tired. He sighed as he waited.

"You're a guardian," I stated plainly. He nodded. The words he had said in Latin were quite clear to me and to everyone in this world. It was a chant that guardians said to the dead to lead them to the next world. The words he said, everyone hoped to receive someday.

May docebit vos in lucem aeternitatis. May the light guide you into eternity.