"No, Joshua please. Don't give him this," She begged, pushing herself further into the corner of the room. Her name was Salina. She lived in a small town on the northeast coast of Antarctica. It was the winter season, the coldest day of the year. But their house gave them warmth. It was built in an ice mountain with the rest of the town homes. Safe from most outside dangers. In her hands was a small child. His last baby fluff had just fallen out the day before. He was young, innocent, a mere child. Too young for what his father wanted. Too young for the gift. A curse to most, but a gift to his father's kind.

"Salina, it will only live in him. When he is old enough, when he is responsible enough, then it will awaken. Until then it will only sleep," Joshua pleaded. He had to give his son the gift before he died. That day was quickly approaching. He felt it in his blood that his power was slowly growing weaker. This may be his last year, he had to give the gift now, on the coldest day, before it was too late. His son had to receive the gift or it would disappear, and his son would become mentally ill. He tried to explain it to Salina, but she didn't believe him. He wanted to give his son the gift not only for his son, but for his beasts. If the gift wasn't transferred soon, they would all die. They were white beasts, the only kind ones. Black beasts were evil, red torturous, and the blue were mysterious. White were the only beasts that could be trusted. "They will die, Salina. Please."

"He will grow up and then this will awaken inside of him and he will be hunted, just like you were. I don't want him to run all his life," Salina replied.

"Salina. I will teach him. Everything about the beasts, and the hunters, and the half-bloods, and me. He will know. When the time comes he will know. I will have him memorize everything, recite it back to me so many times it becomes burned into him memory. If it is a memory of hate, so be it. But at least he will remember," Joshua explained.

"Ten, Joshua. Ten have already died. And twenty three for your father. I have seen how much it hurts you," She stepped towards him. "I have seen how much it pains you. Joshua, how will I know that the pain won't drive him mad? How? This gift is not a gift. It is a curse."

"Nxo te oei xuko ij?" Hoenkei asked, hurt. (Why do you hate us) His voice was rough and worn. He had been alive for over three centuries, he was Joshua's Great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather's first beast. He was standing in the far end of the room, opposite of Salina and Joshua.

"I don't hate you Hoenkei. I just fear for my son," She explained calmly.

"A nacc fhekosk xam. Nakx mo cavo, av dootot," Hoenkei replied confidently. (I will protect him. With my life, if needed)

Salina smiled at the beast. Hoenkei was the biggest of them all. He was grey with long, thin arms, thick legs, that were always bent, and a strong, demon-like torso. He had long sharp fingers and big feet, with sharp, pointed toes. His shin was also pointed and formed a fat 'V' shape with his cheek bones. His mouth and nose came slight out from his face like a lions. He has two rows of razor sharp teeth that fit perfectly into each other forming a wall of white inside his mouth. From his cheekbones his head went straight up until it was above his eyes where it ended with spikes. Hoenkei had thorns that ran down his back (getting larger towards the center of his spine) and tail. Though his arms were thin for a beast (Strong for a mortal) they housed extreme power. As did his legs and tail. His tail was one fourth of his entire body. It was thick and powerful, able to break a truck in two. Hoenkei was a gentle beast, as all white beasts are. He preferred to hide, not call the hunters attention. He did not want to be noticed by the hunters. He had killed a few of them in the past (That is why the pigment of his skin had turned grey), and did not want to kill again. Below the spikes atop his head were two caring, gentle eyes. Eyes that should not belong to a beast. Hoenkei deserved those eyes. He was gentle and caring, protective and sweet. Hoenkei was capable of such feeling, such emotion, such understanding that he seemed almost mortal. The only thing that separated him from the mortals was his appearance, and his obedience. If you were blind, you would not know the difference. That was what Salina was intrigued by. Joshua's beats were all that way, understanding, emotional. They were not capable of the emotion and understanding that Hoenkei was, but it was still there. "Hoenkei," Salina whispered. She still did not want to allow her son to receive the gift.

"Kxadb Salina, oeih jed ajd'k hosoaladw zijk u wavk, rik aj hosoaladw fhekoskehj kee. No ned'k cok xam tao," Hoenkei said gently. "No ned'k cok xam tao." (Think Salina, your son isn't receiving just a gift, but is receiving protectors too. We won't let him die. We won't let him die)

"Promise me Hoenkei. Will you? Promise me he won't die because of this gift. Please," Salina asked, giving in. Hoenkei did not deserve to die. Neither did the others.

Hoenkei placed a hand over his heart. "A, Hoenkei, xohe ro fhemajo ke fhekosk oeih jed vhem toukx veh uj cedw uj a valo udt roukxo." (I, Hoenkei, here by promise to protect your son from death for as long as I live and breathe)

"No need to be so formal Hoenkei," Salina smiled. She held her son out to Joshua cautiously. She was still wary about Joshua giving her son this gift. She did not know if it would hurt him, or change him in any way, shape, or form. She was nervous, but she could not let the beasts die. Not Hoenkei at least. Hoenkei had been through it all. Hoenkei was like a brother to her. Hoenkei had helped her understand that not all beasts are evil. He had been there when she needed to talk to someone. He deserved to live. And he promised to protect her son. If there was anyone in the world that could protect her son, it would be Hoenkei.

Joshua gave Salina a reassuring smile and placed his flipper on his sons chest.

Salina watched as Joshua closed his eyes and recited a language she did not understand. She looked over at Hoenkei. Form the look of confusion that griped his face, Salina could tell that he didn't understand the language either.

After a few minutes of this, the space between Joshua's flipper, and her son's chest began to glow red. After a few minutes more, her sons chest began to emit a soft red glow. Then his entire body gave off the soft red glow. After many minutes passed of this, Joshua opened his eyes. He formed a fist on his sons chest and pulled his flipper away.

Cupping his hands, a red glowing, ball-shaped, energy substance appeared in his hands. He turned to Hoenkei.

Hoenkei took a deep breath and walked up to his master, his friend. He stood in front of Joshua and pushed his chest forward.

"I know how much this hurts Hoenkei. If I knew of another way-" Joshua started.

"A bden," Hoenkei interrupted calmly, "A bden." (I know. I know)

"Go to the frozen river valley, no one will hear you there," Joshua instructed.

Hoenkei nodded.

"I am truly sorry that I have to do this to you. But you are the strongest. I am afraid you are the only one who can take it," Joshua sighed. He pushed the red energy into Hoenkei's chest and backed away.

Hoenkei's face tightened.

"Go, Hoenkei. Come back immediately after it stops," Joshua ordered.

Hoenkei jumped, disappearing before he hit the ceiling.

"Now we wait," Joshua said turning back to Salina. He walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek. "Rest, darling. I will wait for Hoenkei. You take our son and rest," he said softly.

Without a word, Salina turned and left.

Hoenkei returned a few hours later, dawn was breaking. The sun was just a small orange bump along the dark horizon. The sky was a beautiful mix of purple, pink and orange.

For the next four and a half years they taught their son everything there was to know about the beasts and hunters and half-bloods. Until the town was raided and he was taken from them. He had passed his final test. He knew it all, and would know it all for as long as he lived.

Hoenkei followed the boy through the boy's childhood and into his adulthood. Finally the day came.

~~~~~~~~~ Twenty-five years later, two days before the awakening of the gift~~~~~~~~~

"Come on Kowalski you can do better than that!" Skipper barked. Kowalski was failing to use his senses. He had started to think too much again. Over thinking in times of crisis was a danger to all.

"I'm trying Skipper!" Kowalski shouted back frustrated. He had been trying to use his senses for hours now. He didn't know what he was doing wrong, and it was frustrating him. The fact that Skipper kept yelling at him didn't help much, nor did the continuous whacks from the bamboo swards. Skipper had been whacking him with the same, hard, unforgiving stick, for hours.

Skipper stopped. "Take the blindfold off," He ordered, disappointed.

Kowalski took off the blindfold, happy to be able to see again. Until his eyes met Skippers. Fierce, strong, and disappointed. Most of all discouraging. As a student-to-teacher thing, that was a very discouraging look. It basically meant he failed. But Kowalski saw that coming from the start. Kowalski looked down, disappointed in himself. Why couldn't he use is senses? Why couldn't he be more like Rico, able to shut off his brain?

Skipper sighed. "Come on Kowalski, you've done this before. We've been through this already. Thinking in times of crisis-"

"Puts everyone in danger. I know, I know. I just don't know how to do it," Kowalski replied.

"Instinct, Kowalski. Turn off the old think melon and listen to your instinct," Skipper explained. He turned away from Kowalski and walked to the ladder. "We will pick up on this later." He jumped up out of the hatch, leaving Kowalski alone in the HQ.

Kowalski paced, trying to figure out how to listen to his instinct. He thought, and thought, and thought, for a while. But then his thoughts were interrupted.

"Kowalski!" Private shouted startled.

Kowalski ran to the ladder and jumped out. No one was in the habitat. Where did they all go?

"Kowalski!" Private screamed again, this time more frantic.

It came from the front of the zoo. Kowalski took off towards the zoovineer shop. When he got there he saw Private, but no one else. Private was staring forward, towards the main gate of the zoo, with a look of terror on his face. He ran over to Private. "Private, what happened?" He asked concerned. Private didn't look to be hurt at all.

Private pointed forward traumatized.

Kowalski looked towards where Private was pointed. He saw Skipper and Rico, and what looked like a black cloud. After staring at the cloud for a few minutes, Kowalski made out a figure. It was about Joey's height with long, strong arms and claw-like hands. Its legs were big, built, and ended in big feet with razor sharp claws. It had a very strong, dangerous-looking torso and a demonic head. Rico was backing away from it terrified as well. Skipper was holding his ground, like he always does.

Skipper glared up at the dark figure. He wasn't afraid of it. The bigger they are the harder they fall.

"Let me introduce myself," it said with a dark, sly voice. "I am Mordas. The demon of demons, the lord of beasts! The day quickly approaches, boy, when the gift awakens. When it does, I will be waiting. I will put an end to your little sneaky bloodline. AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" It laughed.

The black cloud surrounded the figure and grew. As it grew a strong wind streamed out of it, pushing Skipper back and making Rico run away in fear. When the dust settled, Skipper walked around the spot where 'Maldos' once stood. There was no sign that the figure was ever there.

"How can something just vanish?" He asked himself confused.

"What was he talking about?" Kowalski asked.

Skipper turned around. Kowalski, Rico and Private were standing right behind him with looks of terror written on their faces.

Skipper shrugged. "He must have the wrong person. I wouldn't worry. If he is looking for an awakened gift then he won't find it here. He shouldn't come back," He said calmly. He didn't know if he believed that. But they looked terrified. They needed something to help calm their nerves. So he gave them something that did just that.

They nodded and walked back to the habitat.

"Oei te dek bden xen nhedw oei uho, Skipper," Hoenkei whispered to himself. He was hiding in the shadows, watching. "Oei to bden xen nhedw oei uho." (You do not know how wrong you are, Skipper. You do not know how wrong you are)

Sry i had to shange the name of the evil dude. i don't want to used the name over again. it's already in use in another story. THe two charecters were too much alike.