I'd finally gotten my day off. It had been a long week and I was ready to do something that didn't involve killing stuff. Of course when I woke up that morning the first thing I heard was a dripping sound against my window. Please don't let that be what I think it is...

I got up wiping the sleep from my eyes and opened my curtain. I saw dark grey clouds blocking the sun and rain falling from above.

"Aw!" I moaned.

My Ghost appeared a moment later, "What's the matter Jayden?"

"It would decide to rain on my day off wouldn't it!"

"That's unfortunate. You've just had a string of bad luck haven't you?"

"Yesterday my Sparrow broke down in the middle of our patrol, the day before that I lost six matches in a row in the Crucible, thank the gods Saladin wasn't there to see that. Struck out again with trying to woo Luisa two days ago. And now it's fuckin raining on my fuckin day off."

I flopped onto my bed.

"Are you going to be okay?"

I got off the bed again and got into my gear, "Screw it! I'm going into the City, rain or shine I don't care."

"Okay then...just be careful, since you haven't been down there before people might accuse you for Stolen Valor."

"So I'll tell them I'm part of Fireteam Dagger and explain what happened. They won't like the news though."

I headed out leaving the tower on foot and went into the City's markets. I wondered around, was told thanks by the people, and I browsed the trinkets and nick-knacks the vendors had to offer. As I happened to pass the city entrance though I spotted something. My curiosity got the better of me so I went to investigate. I had only my Ironwreath on me as a concealed carry as most Guardians did with Sidearms and Hand Cannons so I was praying it was just my imagination. I stepped outside and sure enough I saw a figure walking down the road heading north towards the Cosmodrome. I drew my weapon when I got closer.

It was a Fallen. He had two swords sheathed on his back in an X shape. He also had two Guardian Weapons which worried me. He had a Vanguard Sniper Rifle called 1000-Yard Stare and an Auto Rifle; the Suros Regime. I clicked off the safety and took aim.

"HEY!" I shouted.

The Fallen stopped and turned to face me. I almost regretted making myself known. He was a Captain from the looks of his armor which was black and red. The banner he wore was strange, it wasn't in the Archives. Three red claw marks against the black background.

"Hands where I can see them." I grunted.

The Fallen looked at me and raised all four of his strong arms.

"Down on you knees. I don't want trouble."

"Nor do I, Warlock." he replied.

I flinched a bit not expecting him to be able to speak English.

"What are you doing here?"

"Passing through."

"A Fallen passing through Human turf. What's with the weapons. Those rifles aren't yours."

"Not originally."

"Where'd you get them?"

"From dead Guardians I'm afraid. The way I found them only served to break my heart."

"You sure you found them already dead and didn't kill them yourself?"

"An Eliksni is sworn to never lie, especially when said Eliksni is of a higher ranking."

I arched a brow, "There's not many left that still call your people that. Not even your own."

"Maybe I'm not like the others."

I paused, "What's your name?"

"Svadis. I am Svadis, Kell of Scar."

A Kell?! As in the leader of a House?! There was no way. He didn't wear any Kell armor nor did he have his Archon Priest with him. At the very least you would thing a squad of other Fallen to escort him.

"You're no Kell." I said.

"I do not appear as one, but believe me I am. My Archon has assumed duties of Kell while I am away."

Away? So he wasn't with his current House? What the hell was his play here?

"You're away from your House?"

"Yes. On a Holy Mission as your kind would have called it."

"A Crusade you mean?"

"No. That would imply slaughter and death. I am simply looking for someone."

He wasn't looking to kill anyone. It took a minute but it finally hit me. I knew what he was searching for because I was interested in it despite what Wolf had told me.

"The Kell of Kells. You're looking for the Kell of Kells?"

"How did you know that?'

"Lucky guess..."

"Then you must know of House Rain's prophecy."

"Only a little bit."

"It is something I have known for as long as I have lived. Now I seek him out."

I lowered my weapon, "Then be on your way, Svadis."

The Fallen Kell lowered his arms and turned to leave. We heard a loud screech out of no where. Svadis drew his swords and I looked around, my head on a swivel.

"What was that..." Svadis muttered

"Sounded like the-"

A pack of Thrall emerged from the brush just ahead of us. I turned my weapon on them and started firing. The next thing I knew a whole brood was upon us. Wizards, Knights, Acolytes and even an Ogre. They charged at us. I started to back up, quickly losing ground. Svadis however pushed back. The Thrall surrounded him but were no match for his swordsmanship. I stared in awe for a moment but even so Svadis was only on equal footing with the Knights. He did managed to kill one however but more were on the way.

"Svadis, fall back! We can better fight them off from the City walls!" I shouted.

The Kell split a Thrall in two with his bare hands before turning towards me.

"Your people will not let me pass, Warlock."

I thought for a second and basically I did something pretty stupid.

"Not if you are carrying me back." I told him, so I shot myself in the shin. Ironwreath-D was not a weapon I wanted to end up on the wrong side of. The pain was enough to drop me. I screamed.

Svadis made what sounded like a mix between a laugh and a growling noise, a sort of weird guttural purr. He lifted me up off the ground and made his way towards the city. My leg was bleeding pretty badly but it was nothing I couldn't handle. The second one of the City Patrol saw us their weapons jerked up at him. Had I not been in the way they'd have shot Svadis on the spot. Their weapons did fire when the Hive showed up. The guards let us through but kept and eye on the Fallen Kell. The City's comn system sounded an alarm. Guardians rushed to defend the walls as the Hive lay siege to them.

"Okay. Now where?" Svadis asked.

"Find a Guardian, any Guardian."

So we headed towards the Tower of course, where else were we going to find Guardians.

I saw a certain Striker Titan heading our way, he dropped his shoulder the minute he saw Svadis. The Kell held his ground and side stepped him at the last second. Wolf turned now drawing his Auto Rifle, Fabian Strategy, and aimed it at us.

"Easy Wolf," I said, "He's a friend."

"Yeah, a Fallen Captain is your friend? And I suppose Crota and Eris are buddy buddies."

"I'm a Kell, Titan...not a Captain."

"Can it."

"Just trust me on this okay. He saved my life."

"Put him down, Fallen, otherwise I put you down..."

Svadis set me down. And of course Wolf shot me...

My fire ignited and I revived myself using Radiance just before death took hold. It wasn't a perfect heal but it would work at least I could move freely again. If I can walk and run I can fight.

"Start evacing the civilian. Get them to the Tower." Wolf ordered, "Your Fallen friend stays here."

"You aren't gonna kill him are you?"

Svadis moved so fast I nearly missed it. In the most fluid motion, he drew aimed and fired three rounds over Wolf's shoulder catching a trio of Thrall each in the head with Suros Regime. Wolf crouched and squeezed off a burst but Svadis Blinked out of the way, drawing his swords and charging the Hive.

"Son of a..." Wolf started but as soon as he saw the Fallen Kell laying waste to the Hive he stopped.

"Now you believe me?"

"Fine I won't kill him yet. Now get going, get these civilians out of here!"

I nodded. I was putting a lot of faith in Wolf here and I prayed my faith was not misplaced. I gathered up a small group and made my way back to the tower. With one group escorted I turned to head back out to defend the walls with Wolf but was flagged down by Master Rahool.

"Warlock!" he called out, "I have something for you."

I walked over to his stand.

"This better be quick, Cryptarch, we're kinda under attack."

"I'm aware, here."

He handed me a set of gauntlets. I raised a brow, "And these are?"

"These are what came from that Exotic Engram you found a couple of days ago."

"Took you long enough. So do they have a name or something?"

"Claws of Ahamkara. If I'm not mistaken these should make it much easier to use your scorch blast."

"You say that like you've seen them before."

"Indeed. Now hurry, you're needed at the walls."

I took my old gauntlets off and left them on Rahool's table, I'd come back for them later, and slipped on my new ones. They came with shoulder pads that were shaped like talons and a necklace of sorts. As soon as my hands slipped into them my fire whipped up a little bit. I heard a voice. That same one as when Luisa and I had first met. The voice of an Ahamkara.

"Look at all this life, oh bearer mine, there is so much left to burn." it said in a detached voice that sound as if it had manifested 100 times over.

"Silence." I snapped at it, "You won't take my mind that easily, Wurm."

I stepped up onto the walls and looked down. Below us I could see other Guardians fighting off a massive hoard of Hive. I drew my Scout Rifle and started picking off smaller targets. I saw Wolf deal with the Ogre, he quite literally punched it to death. I hissed a bit, what a way to go. Of course as soon as the Ogre died the Knights moved to take down Wolf. I wouldn't have been able to kill them in time, not even with my best shots from either of my rifles. Instead Wolf just jumped into the air, hovered there for a second then slammed back down right where he landed unleashing a very powerful Fist of Havok. Waves of Arc energy washed away the Knights. I stared for a second. Wolf was making this look like child's play. And so was Svadis. The Kell was strong, and his fighting style reminded me of what I had read about Solkis. He was brutal, absolute and didn't pull any punches. He was also a pretty good shot with that Suros Regime…

He and Wolf made a good pair that was for certain. I snapped to when a round from an Acolyte nearly took my head off and quickly fired back. My Scout rifle went dead. I ducked back and reloaded before popping out again. As I did dust kicked up next to me, a Hunter slid into position, a sniper rifle I had never seen before in hand. His cloak gave away his identity.

"Thunder." I muttered, "This is my sniping spot."

"Well I can't let you have all the fun can I?" Thunder replied.

I sense him smiling.

"This is just what we needed, an attack the day before I go on leave."

"Zavala approved it?"

"Yup. Something about needing proper time to mourn. Whatever. I've been waiting for that for almost 2 years. One more day won't hurt."

I moved over a bit giving him space. He was certainly a better shot than I was was, downing four enemies all with headshots. I smirked. That was certainly impressive. I assumed he was going to reload but low and behold, four more rounds went down range and all of them were headshots too. This repeated until he lowered the weapon.

"You wouldn't happen to have any extra ammo would you?" he asked.

"HOW MANY ROUNDS ARE IN THAT MAGAZINE?!"

"Just four.. But an AI reloads the weapon for me if I'm in the zone and getting lots of headshots."

"Where'd you get that rifle?"

"Gunsmith. Don't bother asking for one though. He only makes them for Hunters."

"That's dumb."

"He makes a sick custom Scout Rifle if you want one. Talok? Talalala? Something like that I can't remember the name."

"If we get out of this I'm looking into it."

The Hive started to retreat. I watch Svadis and a certain Bladedancer chase after them up until they vanished into the bush. I went down there. I was pretty Sure Luisa was going to try and fight Svadis and I would rather she not…

To my surprise I was wrong. The two came back to the City walls, weapons stored. They seemed to be talking, and I guess Luisa told another one of her shitty jokes because Svadis laughed. Have you ever heard a Fallen, er, Eliksni laugh? It's a very unique sound for sure.

"Warlock!" he called out, "That was quite the battle. How is your injury?"

I looked at my leg, which now only bore a slight bruise, "I think I'll manage."

"Very good. Very good..."

He dragged the last part out which made him seem more like Variks. Maybe the two knew each other?

"I shall be on my way then." he said, "Until are paths once again cross."

The Kell turned and left without another word, disappearing into the woods.

"So you managed to make friends with a Fallen Captain?" Luisa asked me.

"He's a Kell actually." I replied, "Kell of the House of Scar."

"House of Scar?" Wolf commented, "Never heard of them before."

Thunder aimed Stillpiercer at where he had vanished, "Should I drop him? Gods know I could."

"No." I told him, "Let him go. He helped us defend the walls. He's okay in my book."

"Agreed." Wolf added.

Thunder looked at him like he was crazy, "You're just going to let him go? You'll let a minion of the Darkness live?"

"Thunder, how much do you actually know about the Eliksni?"

"The who?"

Make that two people that don't know who the Eliksni are...fantastic. Maybe someday I could be a history teacher or something and teach these guys about our enemy from a different view point.

"The Fallen," I clarified

"Oh. I know that the House of Wolves got caught up in a war with the Awoken on the Reef and lost horribly because they suck at life. Other than that, nothing."

"Remind me to tell you about them when we get a minute."

"Guess now we start taking account of our losses." Luisa moaned, "Gods I hate paperwork..."

And with that we counted our losses, accounted for all weapons used, buried those drained of their Light and set the Stonewall Titans to work repairing the walls. I got back to my room at probably two or three in the morning. I shed my helmet, the Haliaetus II, stuck it on the door hanger, stripped out of my robes, threw on my civilian clothes and went to lay down on my bed when I got a knock at the door. I answered it and standing there in her civilian gear was Luisa.

"You okay?" I asked

"How'd you do it?" she replied and came inside.

"What do you mean?"

"The Kell. How did you befriend him?"

"It started with not immediately shooting him as soon as I spotted him."

"That was it?"

"No."

I explained to her what had transpired before the Hive attacked.

"So his House is here on Earth?"

"It seems so."

"And he's looking for this Kell of Kells guy in the hope that they can restore their people to their former glory?"

"Yup."

"And what happens if they do find this Kell of Kells? What happens to us? How do you know they won't just attack us and wipe us out, Jay?"

"I don't. Luisa, the Traveler abandoned them some time ago. Apparently some guy named Oryx showed up..."

"Oryx? As in the Taken King Oryx?"

"I suppose so..."

She looked away, "Gods he's lived a long time..."

"What do you mean?"

"It's not important, you should rest now. We can talk about it tomorrow. Zavala approved Dagger for a Strike so we've got a big day of busting our asses ahead."

"Okay then."

She made a move I wasn't expecting next. She wrapped her arms around me and gave my body a little squeeze. My face flushed red and it was hard to keep my fire from breaking loose.

She let go and walked to the door. When she opened it she looked over her shoulder at me.

"Good night, Jay," she said and winked.

My face must've been blood red at that point, but I did managed to reply.

"N-night..."

And she left me to myself. I let the exhaustion hit me like a freight train and knocked out hard.