The night was calm. Too Calm. Lucian sat in the forest camp with many of his men. They had not been up very long before they heard the werewolves like William off hunting in the forest. Lucian had been very reluctant to use these animals, but they were very useful and annoying at the same time. They hunted without thought or mercy and were regularly in check by him. Off in the distance Lucian heard the scuffle and tried to ignore the sounds of screams until they were silenced. One noise however chilled him to the bone. His ear picked up the softest of footsteps. They were too soft for lycans but too heavy for vampires. The next noise let him know exactly what was coming.

It was the voice of a child singing. It echoed in the woods, sending all his men to a stop. He then heard the growl and the rustle of William's brothern. They were going to kill the child. Lucian immediatley took off in the direction his ear detected the song. Next he heard a fearful scream and as he raced into the small valley it came from he prayed he had not been too late. He saw the monster diving at the poor child who had curled into a ball- covering their eyes from the attack that was to come. He changed in mid leap and slammed into the side of the attacking werewolf. He roared threateningly at the beast on the ground and sent a message to the forest that non were to hurt the creature behind him. As he watched the wolf run off into the shadows he turned around to find the child still crying in fear. He knelt, examining her long soft hair and inhaled her youthful scent. She couldn't be more than three.

"Fear not child," he said placing his hand on her tiny warm ones,"you are safe." She allowed her hands to be moved and looked into his face.

"Are the monsters gone?" she asked, her giant blue eyes still filled with tears. He wiped the tears that soaked her face away with his hand.

"Yes, you are safe," he said. She was adorable, he thought to himself but saddly wondered where she had come from. "What is your name?" he asked curiously.

"Amelia," she said timidly. His stomach turned at the recognition at the name of one of the vampire elders.

"Amelia," he said smiling,"I'm Lucian. Why are you out here alone, where are your parents?"

She thought to herself. "Mommy told me to pick flowers. Mommy is sleeping," she said simply. He smiled as he admired her sheer innocence and simplicity.

"Well, can you show me to your home, you shouldn't be out here by yourself," he said. She nodded and stood, taking his hand with her tiny one and guided him in the direction of home.

At first their journey was quiet. He just enjoyed the prescense of something beautiful and soft instead of harsh like his men. Finally they reached the house. She proudly skipped toward the house, but Lucian felt something was amiss. He didn't need to enter the house to smell the boading smell he had feared. Amelia bound into the house and Lucian followed.

"See," Amelia said,"sleeping!" Lucian sadly looked around the room. Everyone was dead. The mother must have sent the poor girl into the woods to help save her. He felt guilty that his kind had robbed his girl from her family until he moved close to the bodies and saw something he had not expected. Vampire marks.

These people were not killed by lycans but by those he hated the most. His heart went out to Amelia as she stood shaking her mother in innocent hopes of rousing her. He could not push himself to leave- but could he bring her with him? He saw no other choice but to bring her to another home and hope that the people inside would take care of her. He coaxed her away from the dead bodies and out of the house.

Amelia was quiet at first but after a few moments she warmed up to his presence and began to speak. "I like the woods," she declared to him.

He smiled at her simple speech,"I do too." He replied simply. After growing up in a cage the woods were a joy and a sanctuary. Soon it was very dark and after walking a long ways Lucian could tell the little girl was having trouble keeping up. She rubbed her eye and yawn, it was as precious as anything to Lucian. He decided she probably had had enough walking so he picked her up and cradled her in his arms. Soon enough she fell asleep against the warmth of his chest. He came to a clearing and found a house on the far side. He would put her on the door step and knock and pray they accepted her, but as he looked down at her small peaceful face in deep sleep his resolve broke. Why could he not keep the child? Their meeting was fate and their destinies were now intertwine. The most aching part of his heart had been that he would never have a child because he would never love again. Wolves are monogamous creatures and he would never forget Sonja. He turned from the clearing and headed back toward camp. His resolve was set, besides, maybe raising a human would be beneficial someday.

**replies are appreciated**