Authors Note: Here it is: the first story of the series I have dubbed 'Zendou'. Right now it is looking like there will be four stories total in this series (number may change at any time). Each one covers a segment of Zeno's life: the first three cover time periods largely prior my fics The Warriors Agenda and Chains of the Past, while the last takes place post-'Chains'. This one, Isolation, is eight chapters long (including the prologue) and with the exception of this week, I will be only posting one chapter a week (Chapter 1 I will post tomorrow).

A big thanks to Exilo, whom helped me start putting this series together and Luke-1539, whom did the final beta-read (and my brother, for support).

Disclaimer: Halo and Sangheili belong to Bungie Studios. However, Original Characters, like Zeno, belong to me.

Edit: Argh...it seemed when I uploaded this to document manager, it decided to eat some of the words. Never did that before and I hope it doesn't do it again. I put the missing words back (hopefully I found them all), so some passages no longer look...odd.

Prologue: First Breath

Approx 23 years before the first Halo event

The world as he knew it was dark, warm, and comforting. Around him, he could feel the warm embrace, holding him, protecting him from whatever unfathomable dangers could be beyond those gentle walls. As comfortable and calm as this world was, it was also noisy. Constantly resounding in his ear holes was a duet of rhythmic pounds and at semi-regular intervals, he would hear a squishy growl that rumbled on for some time. Sometimes he would hear other noises, from far behind the walls, sounds of various tones and pitch that he could not comprehend.

Eventually, he grew aware of another in this world with him. At first, he was content to leave it be, but lately it would press against him, and he would press back at it. But this world seemed to be shrinking, little by little, so he didn't notice it until the other was now almost constantly pressed up against him. Like the walls, the other was warm too, but its warmth paled compared to the warmth of the walls. It also made sounds: a similar duet of rhythmic beating, but like its warmth, it paled in comparison to the greater one. Eventually he came to enjoy the other beings presence: it made him feel not so alone in this world.

This world was all he knew and he was comfortable and safe within its embrace. Yet deep in the consciousness of his developing mind he wondered if there was more. What was it like beyond the protective, warm barrier? Was this all there was? He loved it here, safe and warm, and he had the other keeping him company, but he couldn't help but wonder.

Then one day, his world seemed to be thrown into turmoil. The walls moved, constricted against him and the other as if trying to bring his doom. Did he do something wrong that angered this world? Was it angry that he started to desire something more? He knew not and was helpless against the relentless assault.

Soon he felt the sense that something was missing, and realized the other was no longer there with him. And he felt a new something, somewhere deep inside. He felt sad and alone. Was it gone? Did it abandon him? Had it left him to face this angry world on his own? What if it didn't enjoy his presence as much as he enjoyed it? What if? The walls were still pushing against him and he finally realized that he was no longer welcome. Where was he to go though? And where was the other?

The world suddenly lightened to a purplish hue and the comforting warmth left him. Shocked, he tried to move away instinctively, only to notice for the first time a thin and somewhat flexible barrier restricting his movements. It didn't take much to break this barrier. Once he did, the warmth disappeared almost completely. He shivered briefly until a sense of warmth returned, but it was nothing like he had felt in the old world.

Tiny mandibles splayed open as he took his first breath, emitting a squeal that shocked him. He had heard sounds before, in the old world, but it was the first time he made such a sound himself. Along with his first breath, so came the sense of smell: a multitude of new scents assaulting the olfactory organs in his throat. He stayed still, overwhelmed by the new means of gathering information from his surroundings and uncertain how to interpret them yet.

Then he opened his eyes.

At first, he felt fear, seeing all these new colors, fear that was quickly replaced with curiosity. He looked around, starting to assess his surroundings anew, using both his new sight and his new smell. Then he remembered touch, suddenly aware of the softness underneath him. Looking down he saw two dark brown things, each with four smaller things attached to them. The large things moved. The smaller things flexed. Leaning down he sniffed them, then nipped experimentally.

A new sensation: pain. His brain made the connection that those dark brown things were a part of him. He took interest in himself, rolling onto his side so he could see himself more fully and discovered his feet. Fascinated, he watched as he moved them about, getting a feel of their range of motion. The same he did with his hands and stretched out his arms. He flexed his fingers, stretching them, even biting them to be sure they were his and did not belong to someone else. Ouch! Yes, they were his.

Then there was a new sound; one that he did not make himself. He turned his head toward the source and found he was not alone. There was a large figure reclining close by, brown in color. He lay there, transfixed, as this figure leaned closer, green orbs set within its elongated head. Then he caught a fresh whiff of its scent and found the sudden, slightly sweet smell familiar. His instincts told him this new thing, despite its size, was no threat. The figure nuzzled him, its entire face covering his torso, and he knew he had nothing to fear. The sensation caused an involuntary reaction with his body, his legs and arms waving as he giggled: his first laugh. He moved forward, stumbling really, trying to take hold of the thing's muzzle, not wanting it to ever leave him.

But it did. It pulled away and he felt that sadness, until he became aware of other figures close by. One came up and lifted him from his perch. The smell of this one was unfamiliar, though also had a hint of sweetness to it. Though its grip brought a measure of warmth, he felt threatened and thus attempted to bite. The new figure was able to keep his little mandibles away from its flesh as it seemed to inspect him. He didn't like this one: he wanted the other one back, it put him down again, only in a soft depression that was separate from the platform he was on before.

He squawked in protest: he didn't want to be separated from the one he felt safe with. Somehow he managed to crawl to the edge of the depression, only to find a great space between him and the other. Something touched him then, making him jump. He turned around and snapped at it instinctively, only to see another, this one much smaller than the others. Indeed, this one was about the same size as he and had the same green orbs as the first large figure.

They stared at each other for a moment; then he cautiously edged closer and took a sniff, the other doing the same to him. Their snouts touched, and they both jumped back in surprise. Yet he realized this one was familiar to him as well, though he could not place from where. Did this one come from the old world as well? It didn't matter, as again his instincts were saying there was no threat here. In fact, he felt something, something that took away that sadness at not having the big thing to nuzzle him or the safe warmth of the walls. The other then yawned and he yawned in turn. Discovering all these new things had tired him and he lay down to rest. He felt the other lay down next to him and instinctively they intertwined, sharing their heat.

His eyes grew heavy. The other one yawned again and its warm breath blew over him. He started to drift, but before they could fall into sleep, they would be disturbed by yet another large thing. This one though towered over them, towered over everyone, dark brown skin barely visible underneath large, hard-looking shiny yellow scales. This one's scent was musky and imposing, making him shrink away slightly. Two large hands then lifted him up and away from his new-found companion and he squawked in protest at being removed yet again from a source of warmth and comfort.

He tried to bite, only to find his small teeth were not able to make any dent in this one's hide. So instead he glared at it, their eyes locking. This new thing did not seem fazed at all, it seemed more amused actually, as, like the figure before, it looked him over. Then it made a sound, a sort of certainty in it. Its firmness so fitting with its strength.

Zeno.

He was put back with his companion then, whom he happily curled back up with. The other sniffled, and he would come to learn that meant it was sad. It seemed to miss him too. Quickly they drifted off asleep. Not knowing nor understanding yet that the sound that figure had made was his new name.