A/N: Yes, people, second to last chapter here. I know, this is a depressing event for all of us. But, I'm hoping it's satisfying in the action department. And the slight comical relief at the end.

Mrs. Dom Masbolle: Beka actually wasn't coming back to tell him she loved him, but I don't think it really matters. And yes, Ishak was the original bad guy.

Ariana May: Of course Beka needs saving, she just sent days healing then the stupid girl left the house in an emotional whirlwind. AND, she didn't grab any weapons. XD

Lioness's Heart: Thank you greatly for the compliment. I hope it doesn't give me a big head. But I will give in for the next second. I'm a good writer!! Okay, now I am done. :P

Bevin Brighteyes: I'm happy to save your sanity. XD I realized that mistake when you said it. I kept playing with that sentence, your suggestions in there, and I guess I forgot to change the last part. Thanks for reminding me, it's changed now.

Hopefully I will be writing my new stories soon. Do you guys think I should do an AU? If not... I seriously have to think of a new, exciting story to write.

Beka stared at the man, waiting for the pain to come. He had his rings on, the spikes looking much more terrifying than they had the last time . She wondered why he still had them, they should have been taken away when he was in the cages. Before Beka could fully finish her thoughts, the man threw Pounce and grabbed her, hauling her up so she was on her feet. His ringed hand slammed into her stomach, grabbing at the flesh and tearing it. She felt the claws dig into her sensitive belly and gasped.

She was pushed again, landing on her hip. She felt the cobblestones meet her hip with bruising force. The bruise it would leave would be large and very ugly. The edges of the stones bit into her forearm and hands. Looking up, she found his attention drawn to a knife embedded in his arm. The arm hung limply at his side, but he didn't seem to notice. He looked up from the blade and saw the Rogue.

The Rosto that Beka saw was not the one she was used to. This one was pure emotion. His eyes were darker than she had imagined they could be, his face blank but for the tightness around his mouth. He held a blade in each hand, but Beka could make out the imprint of more in his clothes. He had lost the one in his left boot, and the two that usually resided on his arms were in his hands. The ones on his kidneys and thighs were still there. She knew his larger one on his spine was still in its sheath.

He glanced at Beka and his eyes never changed. For the first time since she had met him, Beka was truly afraid of Rosto. He usually didn't seem dangerous to her, not compared to some of the Rats she knew, but something about him was much more raw. He didn't seem to be in control of his rage and it terrified her. He had an aura of danger around him.

Then, his attention was back on Ishak. The Bazhir ran at Rosto without taking the knife from his arm. The damaged arm dangled alongside him, jumping every time his foot hit the road. Beka noticed that the jostling arm didn't have any rings on it.

When she saw Rosto take a hit to his hip, Beka jumped up, ignoring the pain in her own. She ran at the man as Rosto sliced open his cheek and nose. As she neared Ishak, Rosto looked at her, an annoyed expression tugging at his face. In the second his attention was diverted, he was hit on the cheekbone with the mans ringed fist. Beka winced as Rosto rocked, dazed from the hit.

Ishak heard the sound and looked at her. Then, he grinned, turning his back on Rosto to face her. His grin made her hackles raise and she clenched her teeth. She knew her eyes were getting lighter by the second, and an ordinary Rat would be unnerved by them. The Bazhir just looked her in the eye and kept moving toward her. When he came to her, he gripped her arm in his good hand, hard enough for Beka to feel the flat part of the rings leaving more bruises.

"You should have left well enough alone, girly." Then, he wrenched her arm around her back, making her turn in the process. She could feel him pressed against her back, her arm so far behind her back she could feel the base of her skull. "My Lord was most displeased when you took Geen in. You lost him much money." He whispered it into her ear, his stinking breath grazing her cheek.

Her eyes widened and she tensed. She knew the reason for the attack now. He pulled harder on her arm, fast, and she heard it pop. Sudden pain blossomed in her shoulder, moving quickly to her stomach. She curled, still on her feet, feeling her stomach heave.

Ishak let her go and she dropped to the ground, jarring her shoulder and sending another wave of nausea through her. Everything she had eaten came out of her, spattering the cobblestones. She swayed on her good arm and fell to her side, curling her hurt arm onto her chest. Purple stars exploded behind her eyes, leaving black stains behind. Then, blackness swallowed her and she was alone.

--

Rosto didn't stop to think. He ran to the sound of her voice, knowing she was in trouble. She wouldn't scream for him if she weren't. He ran down the stairs, grabbing his boot knife on his way. He ran faster than he thought possible, his mood becoming more and more grim as he exited the Dove.

He sighted Beka being picked up. Then, he saw her gasp in pain as the man punched her, grazing up her stomach. Something glinted in his hand and Rosto sped up. When he was within range, he stopped to throw his boot knife at Ishak, then grab his wrist knives. Ishak looked at the knife in his arm, then at him. Then, the stupid Bazhir ran at him. He landed a hit on his hip, then Rosto sliced his cheek open, the wound ending on his nose.

Movement caught his attention, and for a moment, he looked away. Beka was moving, small drops of blood bubbled along her forearm. The stupid mot was probably trying to help. Couldn't she see he had it handled?

As soon as the thought was out of his head, it rocked back. Pain exploded on his cheekbone and he could feel blood dripping down. He was out of it, swaying on his feet. He saw Ishak grab Beka then blacked out again. When he came too, Beka was lying on the cobblestones next to her own vomit, Ishak standing over her.

Her shoulder was swollen, pressing tight against her tunic. The sight fed Rosto's anger, making adrenaline push out the last of his pain. He ran at Ishak, his knives slashing at anything they could. He felt them cut into skin then hit something hard. A wet sucking sound reached his ears and he heard the clatter of metal on stone. The boot knife was out of Ishak's arm, and blood pouring freely from the now open wound.

Ishak punched him, the spiked rings grazing his side. Rosto followed with two quick slashes to Ishak's stomach. He tried to thrust but Ishak backed away, nimble for the blood he had lost. The Bazhir came at him, one arm coming quickly at his stomach, the other dangling helplessly.

Rosto danced around him, then grabbed his hurt arm, dropping one knife to do so. He pulled him close to himself, while pulling the other knife up so it faced away from him. He felt bone grinding on the blade before Ishak stiffened. Then, he dropped. Ishak lay on the cobblestones, blood pooling quickly on his back and under his arm.

Rosto moved back and wiped his blade off, then looked for Beka. Pounce was on her, licking her face and sitting on her arm. Bring her home. Do not leave her. After a dumbfounded second, Rosto picked Beka up and Pounce ran off in the direction of the kennel.