Author's Note: Hi! Look at this, it's a chapter update that didn't take a million billion years! Aren't you proud of me? This one is a little shorter than usual, but...well, you'll see when you read it. :)

Here we go!

Chapter Ten - It's In The Genes

"...That man - Caius...he's my father!"

Without thinking, a growl escaped from Hope's throat.

Your father!?

He felt Vanille's hand on his back, though he couldn't tell if it was her hand shaking, or his own body. Her father? That was preposterous.

Unless...

As Yeul became overwhelmed and passed out - prompting a cry from Noel - the man in question stepped out from the trees. He had been there the whole time, of that Hope was sure. Yeul must have seen him, triggering her response. Caius stepped forward, toward his alleged daughter. Hope - on purpose this time - let out a ferocious growl, and barked loud enough that birds perched in trees in the distance were startled, and fled to the safety of the sky. He stepped to the side, placing himself above Yeul and in front of Vanille, protecting them from the man he thought he trusted.

Furious blood pounded in the wolf's ears as Noel asked, "Caius, what's going on?"

The man ran his piercing eyes over the four of them before they rested on Hope's.

What kind of bullshit is this!? Is she like me!? EXPLAIN YOURSELF!

His frustration and confusion came out in one more deafening bark, so harsh it left his own throat begging for mercy. His ears flicked as he heard Yeul whimper below him.

Caius continued to stare Hope down as he took another step forward. The beast didn't back away, in fact, he hardly moved a muscle. Whether he was her father or not, he wasn't letting him touch Yeul.

A sigh escaped the man's mouth, "How quickly you distrust me, my friend. Very well, I do not blame you." His gaze shifted then to Noel, "Bring Yeul to my home, if he will let you. You too, my dear," he said to Vanille, "There is something very important I have been keeping from you all. It's past time I explain." With that, he turned and headed back to his secluded house.

Hope was seething. This was wrong, everything was wrong. Still, when Noel cautiously approached to pick up his beloved pet, he stepped aside. He needed answers.

When they entered Caius' house, he was calmly maintaining the fire in his hearth, acting as though nothing was happening. Only Vanille's touch kept Hope from tearing his hands off. Noel gently placed Yeul on the floor by the fire so she would be warm. The snow began almost immediately to melt from her fur.

Never leaving her side, Noel asked, "What are you hiding, Caius? What's wrong with her?"

"Not to worry, she'll be just fine." The man migrated to a chair, where he could see all of them. His casual demeanor only infuriated Hope more, but he stayed with Vanille, who was subconsciously chewing her lip in confusion, and perhaps a little fear. He made a vow to protect her, and that's what he would do.

"It's a bit of a tedious tale to tell," Caius added, "but listen close. It will explain everything."

Generations ago, in a village smaller than Cocoon, new parents were celebrating the birth of their daughter. The couple swooned over their beautiful baby, her soft tufts of hair colored silver like her mother's. She slept soundly as her half-sister watched from the doorway, afraid of being a nuisance. Her fears were in vain, however, as the baby adored her, and they both were raised with love.

But as the silver-haired girl grew, she began to show signs of possessing otherworldly power. The mother - named Etro - feared this power, and proclaimed her youngest child cursed. Soon, she told the girl's father that their daughter had to die, her power couldn't be allowed to blossom. He waved her off as mad, surely she didn't intend to kill their child. But Etro began treating her as if she were diseased, and spent many hours away - goddess knows where. He soon began to realize that she was in fact startlingly, horrifyingly serious. He loved his daughter, he couldn't let her die.

So, knowing of the mystical arts himself, the father channeled his daughter's power in an attempt to put an end to her mother's outrageous plans. With this power, he intended to kill her, but as he approached her, watching their silver-haired angel sleep, he couldn't do it. He couldn't take her life. Despite everything...he still loved her deeply. So, instead, he slipped her into a deep, quiet sleep. He held her and grieved for what he had to do. He carried her away to a nearby cave unknown to anyone in their village. He laid her to rest there, as her body slowly turned to crystal in front of him - an eternal sleep. As she transformed, a curse poured from his heart:

"Etro, for your evil, you are sentenced to death. However, it will not be by my hand. The first male descendant of your eldest daughter shall be the guardian of your killer. I, bound to you, shall not age nor die until the deed is done. Our daughter shall remain at my side, protected from harm."

With resounding finality, the father left the cave and returned home. Upon his arrival, he found that his child had been transformed into a silver beast. She was very small and terribly frightened. He regretted what his actions had done to her, but it was too late. Thankful that her older sister already had a life of her own, he took her that very same day and moved to Cocoon, a recently settled village at the time...

His tale left three of them in shock, while Yeul looked down at her paws. Hope was too stunned to read her. Noel stared at her in disbelief. His best friend used to be human...

Vanille finally managed to stutter, "Wh...what do we have to do with it?"

Caius gave her a look that could not be interpreted, then rested his eyes on his...daughter, "If you recall, Yeul had an older sister - fathered by another man. She was spared from my curse, and had no boys. However, several generations later," he looked at Hope now, eyes as cold and serious as ever, "one of her descendants finally bore a son."

This shockwave was worse than the initial earthquake. Noel seemed to be in a state of being perpetually dumbfounded. Vanille was looking at Hope with such shock and confusion...

You were right, Mom...

In an instant, Vanille bolted from the house. Noel rose to chase after her, but Caius shook his head, "No, my boy."

Hope didn't stay to see what happened next. He nosed his way outside and followed Vanille's messy tracks. Tracking her by scent more out of habit than necessity, he found her leaning against a tree, crying. He felt awful.

I wanted to tell you...

He nuzzled her hands, which covered her face.

I'm sorry, Vanille... I'm so sorry...

Hope wished so desperately that she could hear him... He hadn't known the whole truth either, not until now. He wanted to tell her, to talk to her, to comfort her, but his damn body... He sat in the snow, trying to figure out how to help her.

Eventually, she calmed down on her own. Wiping the nearly-frozen tears from her face, she hesitantly asked, "Are you...really a human in there?"

Hope nodded, looking down at his paws, feeling almost ashamed.

She took his head in her hands, her thumbs resting near his eyes. She looked at him pleadingly, "Tell me what you're thinking..."

Even if he could tell her, his mind was blank. But he pressed his forehead to hers, wanting so selfishly to be human again so he could kiss her, that he buried the desire instantly. It wasn't the time.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and for a time they stayed frozen in silence, woman and beast, the world around them remained just as still. Breaking the spell, Vanille whispered, "We have to do something... I'll help you... I won't give up...until you're human again... I promise..."