Don't know if I'm just welcoming the furries or not, but here is a fun little bit! Adam=Cosmo! Yep. That's it. Enjoy!

Adam threw his arms up in futile defense when the light of the galra canon faded. "Gah!" he screamed. Then silence. Slowly lowering his arms, he looked around in sudden fear and awe. There was nothing... and everything. Stars and planets spun through a black void. He knelt upon a reflective surface that defied all logic. His jet was gone, as were his flight suit and helmet. Despite everything, his emotions from the dogfight were deadened. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Hello, Adam."

Adam turned toward the gentle man's voice. He was tan, then pale, then dark skinned. His hair seemed to shimmer and change length and color. The suit he wore seemed like a lie, though Adam couldn't tell why. The only thing that was constant were his eyes. Soft, warm, encouraging. Adam stood and hugged himself. "Who are you? Where am I?"

"My name is Bob... and this," he gestured with an arm, "is a plane of reality beyond time and space. It exists separate from everything you ever knew."

"How..." Adam's question died on his lips and he looked around in wonder.

A hand landed on his shoulder. 'Bob's' ever transient form smiled kindly. "You have many questions. I know this. To answer all would destroy you in every way. And you would gladly accept this. However," Bob's smile broadened and he walked past Adam. A nebula swirled in the distance, slowly getting closer. Bob continued, "It seems the infinite cosmos is not done with you."

"Wait," Adam blanched and asked, "did I die?"

"Adam," Bob leveled his omniscient gaze on him, "you cannot die. Not yet. You remember, don't you? Your promise to protect that boy?"

Adam gasped and was instantly lightheaded with panic. He reached out and grabbed Bob's arms. "Keith?! Oh god, what happened to him?" His hands slipped. He felt odd. Insubstantial. But Adam didn't care and he demanded, "Tell me he's alive!"

Bob smiled and stepped through Adam. Looking to the approaching nebula, he answered, "The boy is there, but he is not alone. To survive such an environment, they will need your support. However, you cannot return to that plane of existence as you currently are."

Adam clenched a fist and lifted his chin. His eyes narrowed and he felt his chest rise in anticipation of a fight. "What do I have to do?"

Bob looked him over, gauging his determination. Then he smirked in approval. "It is rare I find one worthy. Yes, I will grant you a form most fitting. When you wake, you will be disorientated. To control the power coursing within, you must remember why you were delivered to me." Bob gently held Adam's arms and incanted, "Close your eyes, celestial warrior... guardian of old... and awaken!"

Darkness did not blind him, though it surrounded him. There was vapor and gas and matter. Then all was hot. The vacuous space flew by fast, though not as fast as he could move. As suddenly as the motion started, it ended... with a dull pain that faded quickly. He pushed up on all fours and looked about.

The ground below him seemed to breathe and pulse with a deep... slow... heartbeat. It was living. Like the rest of the things around him. Flora and fauna he'd never seen before grew in spectacular color and size. That did not bother him. There was a task. A primordial calling. Something that consumed him. Something... what was it...

A thick sharp claw swung around and pinched his leg. Howling in pain, he whipped around and saw a large armored creature. It's shell glistened with a strange mineral. The pincer that held his leg lifted and threw him. He landed against the side of the crater he'd created when he'd crashed and fell in a heap. The thing that had attacked him and several others like it loomed overhead. A snarl left him, though it was weaker than he'd expected.

Right as the creature raised its clawed pincer again, another creature rushed from behind. It ran on two legs, wielding a curved metallic weapon in one hand. It's face was hidden in shadow beneath a hood. Dark eyes seemed to glow as they narrowed in on his small form before turning to the creatures with a loud cry. The armored creatures turned in alarm, but the new attacker quickly dispatched the one that had hurt him.

A second figure similar to the hooded one ran from the side. Bursts of energy emerged from the weapon in her hands, felling two more of the beasts and driving back the rest. The one with the hood moved in front of him and turned with a spin of his weapon. How peculiar. He was much more powerful than this strange being, and yet they felt the need to protect him.

The first figure turned his head to survey the area before relaxing his stance. He called to the other, "Do you think they'll come back?"

The second, a woman taller than the youth, answered, "I do not know. We will want to find a safe location we can defend if that is the case."

"Affirmative." The youth turned, his weapon becoming small with a spin of flair, and he sheathed it behind his back. Reaching out a hand, he crouched and whispered, "Hey, little guy. I'm not going to hurt you." He stretched his hand out and came a few inches closer. "It's ok, it's ok. Looks like that big meanie gave you a bit of a cut there. Mind if I..."

The youth put his hand on his side and pressed down. He groaned and allowed the youth to hold him against the ground. Another hand gently held and extended his back leg. He whimpered. The youth clicked his tongue behind his teeth and looked at his face with pain in his eyes. Then he looked over his shoulder. Turning back, the youth knelt and reached under him. He whimpered, weaker this time, as the youth picked him up. His limp head was cradled in the crook of his arm and his injured leg hung.

The youth carried him toward the woman. "I think I saw a cave not too far from here."

The woman looked down at him in the youth's arms, an expression of concern vanishing in the blink of an eye. "Lead the way, Keith."

Keith. That name... his task... They were the same. This boy. His to protect. He whimpered a final time and closed his eyes to rest. He would protect his boy.

As he grew, he watched his boy mature and learn. The woman was Krolia. One of those that had taken his previous life. But if Keith was alright with her, he was too. It wasn't until the light revealed her history that he realized who she was. His boy's mother. She was important to Keith. He would protect her as well.

His own previous life was also starting to return. Waves of light removed the shadows in his mind. He remembered his roles. Teacher... Brother... Fighter... ... Lover.

He could not see their face or hear their voice, but their presence was felt on a much deeper level. He was calmer on the nights the light brought memories of them together. Keith slept better as well. But then the light recalled the first night the presence of the one he loved was gone. Loss. Sharp. Cutting. Visceral. Pain. Pain unlike anything he thought he could experience. Hotter than the moment of parting. An ice shard driven into his chest because they would never reconcile what had caused them to separate in the first place.

He whined as he woke up beside Keith. Lifting his head to see over his boy's back, he saw Keith curled up in the fetal position. One hand was up holding the side of his head, the muscles of his cheeks and forehead twitching sporadically. He moaned and shivered, a light sheen of sweat coating his cheeks and forehead. Krolia knelt beside him. She, too, appeared disturbed by what the light had shown. Her hand shook when she reached out to brush Keith's hair back and she murmured soothingly.

When Keith whimpered in his sleep, he woke up gasping and wide eyed. They looked at each other for a moment, each understanding what they'd both seen. Then Keith sat up and hugged her. They knelt like that for a long while. Adam stood and shook his fur out, then went to the cave entrance. It was raining. Like back then. The light flashed again, a quick burst this time, and he saw the memorial.

He stood there in full uniform, his hand on Keith's shoulder. Tears ran silent and freely down his face. He was trembling. Struggling. Desperately holding himself together for Keith's benefit. Or so he'd told himself. He knew if he broke down here, he would never be whole again. They were gone. Takashi. The one he loved most. In the memory, Keith choked on a sob and turned. Adam held him then the way his mother held him now. The rain christening the memorial became a downpour.

The light passed on and Adam howled. He howled until Keith wrapped his arms around his neck and squeezed. "It's alright, boy. It was just a nightmare."

Adam huffed out a long breath and leaned into Keith. If only he could tell him. Standing, he put his head against Keith's chest, then returned to lay on his side beside the small clay-like stove they'd constructed. Krolia went to the woodpile and said, "Go back to sleep, Keith."

Keith looked into the distance beyond their home and nodded. While he returned to the mat of grasses he slept on, Krolia carried fresh logs to the stove. Adam watched her feed them in and sit beside him. Her hand nearly landed on his shoulders when she gasped lightly and lifted her hand. Adam turned his head to look at her. She chewed her lip and looked away. She knew something. And she doubted its truth. Adam dropped his head back onto the ground and sighed. He returned his gaze to his boy, determined to pay attention for more 'nightmares'.

"You... are more than you appear, wolf." Krolia kept her voice low. Adam slowly rolled up onto his stomach and looked at her. She looked away first. "That was not the first time Keith experienced the loss of a father. I am glad he did not have to stand alone before a grave a second time." Krolia's eyes watered and she took a moment to settle her emotions. "I know... wolf... that was not his memory, though I doubt he even realized it. I do not know who you were. I do not know how you came to be here like this. It does not matter. You love him as much as I. Thank you... for protecting him."

Adam stared into her eyes. She needed to know how happy he was Keith had found her. How glad he was that she continued teaching Keith now that he could not. Then he sneezed. Krolia smiled and turned to watch the fire. She did not lift her hand to touch him as she had before. Adam rolled over into the side of her leg and rested his head on her thigh, shoving his nose under her hand. Hesitantly, she moved her hand along his head until it was on the back of his neck. He huffed and closed his eyes to sleep.

"Keith, look out!"

Adam charged forward as the creatures that lived parasitically on the space whale refused to die. Keith had turned toward the one they'd hunted when another rushed up behind him. Adam was too far away. Then that power rose within. The need to protect. He felt it as a rising flood and blinked. When he opened his eyes, he was in front of Keith. He touched Keith, feeling that same power again. They vanished and he yelped. When they appeared again, he fell heavily on his side.

Keith managed to stay on his feet, though surprised by what had happened. Adam sighed in relief. His boy was unharmed. Then Krolia screamed, "Keith, move!"

Keith screamed as well as the thing he'd managed to dodge came at him from above. He raised his sword and fell to one knee, straining as the creature pressed down upon him. He shouted in exertion, his foot slipping backward. Adam growled and stumbled up as Keith's other leg gave out. The sword nearly fell when Adam touched his nose to Keith's back. When Adam blinked them further away, he whined and limped a step before falling heavily.

Krolia cursed and clicked a button on the side of her gun. The creature turned, screeching a horrible high pitched sound that hurt his ears, and charged. Krolia's gun began to glow the longer she held the trigger. Cursing loudly, she finally released as the thing barreled toward them. Her blast landed square on it's chest and the screech ended in pain. It's momentum carried it onward even though it was dead. Krolia turned and tackled Keith, rolling onto her back.

The space around them was silent apart from the weak whine emanating from Adam. Keith pushed up and looked around in a panic. "Wolf! Wolf, oh god! Krolia! Krolia, I need you! Mom!"

Keith slid on his knees beside Adam and reached out, hesitating an inch away. He looked at the bleeding wounds on his side and then put a hand on Adam's muzzle. "Oh god, oh god. Mom, what do we do?"

Krolia sucked in a deep breath, her eyes darting and accessing the full depth of the wounds. Putting her hands to her mouth, she ran them down her face and pressed them together. "We'll do what we can, Keith. He's very strong."

"Mom... he saved me. I can't lose him."

Krolia bit her lip and reached out to Keith. "You need to stay focused." Keith looked into her eyes, the fear never leaving his, but he slowly calmed down until Krolia put a hand on his head. "Let's get to work."

Adam watched the shadows dance along the cave wall. He huffed, his breaths shallow, and tried not to whine. Keith sniffed and hugged him, burying his face in Adam's scruff. His hands were clammy, his face shining with sweat. It had taken far too long to get him to their humble home and even longer to tend his injuries. Adam tried to shift and reassure Keith he would be fine, but even he didn't know the full extent of his capabilities in this form. He only knew what 'Bob' had said. The universe wasn't done with him.

"Keith, let him rest," Krolia gently insisted.

Adam felt his boy squeeze him for a final long moment before sitting upright and sliding along the floor to his mother. "Isn't there any more we can do?"

Krolia wrapped an arm around Keith's shoulders and exhaled slowly. Pulling him into her side, she answered, "I know you're worried and I wish I had a full med ward at my disposal, but all we can do is sit with him through the night. He is strong. If he lasts until morning, I have no doubt our friend will live."

Keith wiped at his eyes and sniffled again. "It's... I watched my dog die, mom. She was attacked by wild animals and I watched her bleed out from wounds that weren't this bad."

Krolia clicked her tongue behind her teeth and pulled Keith's head against her chest. Rocking him, she kissed his hair and said, "How about a story, huh?"

Keith nodded against her. "Sure."

Krolia tipped his chin up and smiled. "My father used to tell me all these stories, these legends, from the olden days. I listened intently, memorizing everything so that I could one day tell my own children." She ruffled Keith's hair and he gave a reluctant smile. He leaned more into her and she went on, "There was this one myth I loved. My father told me that when a warrior was destined for greatness, the cosmos would send a messenger to guide them down their path. A spirit leading them through danger until their destiny is fulfilled. Sometimes, the messenger appears as a friend. Someone the warrior knows and trusts. Other times an animal. A bear, a wild cat... a wolf."

Adam yawned and shifted his head to stare into his boy's eyes. Keith shook his head and said, "That's just a bed time story."

Krolia smiled softly and kissed Keith's forehead. "Of course. Do you want to stay up with our 'messenger'?"

Keith nodded and stretched. "Yeah."

Krolia stood in one fluid motion and went to add fuel to the stove. "Wake me up before you fall asleep."

Keith slid on the floor and knelt beside Adam. He lifted his head to comfort his boy and whined when the pain was too great. Keith sucked in a breath, eyes glassy and near spilling with restrained tears. "Easy, boy. I'm here. It's okay." He leaned over and cradled Adam's muzzle in his hands. Kissing Adam on the face, he curled up beside him, lifting Adam's head over his arm. "Don't worry. You're going to get better and... and you won't hurt soon. My mom said so. In the morning, you won't even feel this."

Adam blinked wearily. Of course he would get better. The universe wouldn't allow anything less. He waited until Keith fell asleep to move his head into a more comfortable position. His boy was heavy and warm, his cheeks blotchy from crying silently. Adam licked Keith's cheeks and groaned to wake Krolia.

The galra woman blinked awake without a sound. Her eyes flicked toward the door then to Keith and her expression softened with a gentle sigh. Rolling up, she silently came to Keith's side and turned him over until he was laying in a natural sleeping position. Adam growled low in his throat to push back the pain as he made his way to the stove. Panting, he fell onto his stomach with a heavy whumph.

He was almost asleep when Krolia's hand on his shoulder made him blink up at her. She stared knowingly into his eyes and demanded under her breath, "You cannot die, wolf. Don't you dare. Not until you tell him who you are. You can't put that responsibility on me as well. I refuse to be the one to tell him. Please... Don't leave us here alone. He needs you... and this is too much to handle by myself." She covered her mouth with a hand to stifle a sudden sob. Adam whimpered and pushed up into her chest. She instantly wrapped her arms around his neck latching onto the comfort he freely gave.

Adam watched Keith fly the ship up to the castle of the lions. He only knew it from the abyss, but Keith was practically vibrating with energy as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. These last two years had seen him grow so much. Adam hardly recognized the boy who had run away nearly four years ago after the Kerberos Mission went missing.

The ship came to rest and the engines cut off. Adam stayed near the altean girl, Romelle. She had been through a lot, even if he didn't understand everything, and she frequently kept a hand on the back of his neck almost as though he were a therapy dog instead of a guardian wolf. Adam watched Keith drop to the floor where footsteps approached at a jog and came to a halt.

Krolia reached for Romelle's hand and her hand tightened in Adam's scruff. He took a couple steps, pulling her toward the exit. She extended her arm before following, more afraid of being left behind than of what was outside. Adam jumped down and looked back as Krolia helped Romelle from the ship. She took two steps before catching her balance and buried both hands in his fur again.

Krolia motioned for him to stay with the strange girl and walked forward to speak to Keith and his friends. "Perhaps we should explain after we've taken Lotor into custody."

"Agreed," Keith said. "Where is he now?"

"He's with Allura."

"What!?" Keith turned to the boy in the brown jacket. "We have to get her away from him!"

"Why? Keith, you're not making sense."

Adam perked his ears toward that voice. No. It wasn't possible. Or correct. Like a recording that had been corrupted somehow. It wasn't how he remembered. Stalking around Keith, he felt Romelle's resistance as he looked at this man. His lip lifted and he felt a growl building in his throat.

He was bigger. Stronger. Whatever had happened had changed him, but something was wrong. There was something horribly wrong. That. Wasn't. Takashi. The growl increased to an audible level and Keith looked over at him. Putting a hand on his head, he coaxed, "Stay, wolf."

The one who looked like Takashi turned those cold alien eyes on him. "Keith, what's going on?"

Krolia put a hand on Romelle's arm and said, "We told you, Lotor has been using you for his own horrible agenda. He wants power."

"That doesn't make sense," the girl in green said.

Keith ground his teeth and glanced at Romelle. "Look, I know this is out of nowhere, but you have to trust me on this. We need to get Allura back and then we'll confront Lotor."

The tall man with the mustache shook his head. "We can't do either of those things until they leave the quintessence field."

"You let her go in there?!"

"Keith," Krolia cautioned.

Keith chewed his cheek and took a deep breath. The other paladins all looked at him with concern. The boy in the brown jacket reached out a hand to Keith's shoulder. "Keith, we have a little time until Allura comes back and I know you're upset for a reason, but Lotor won't do anything to harm her if he is using her. Come to the lounge and talk us through everything."

Keith exhaled, the tension leaving him so easily, and he nodded. "Yeah, alright. You're right, Lance."

The boy in the jacket seemed almost taken aback before smiling and lifting his chin. "Of course I am, mullet. Now come on." Adam finally turned from the impostor to look at the boy in the brown jacket. Mullet. So he was the boy from Keith's memories. He slung his arm around Keith's shoulders and started leading out of the hangar.

"Come on, miss," the yellow paladin said.

Romelle stepped closer to Adam and answered, "Alright. You're one of Keith's friends?"

The yellow paladin walked on her other side. "Oh, sorry, my name's Hunk. This here's Katie, but you can call her Pidge. The skinny one with Keith is Lance and the big guy's our leader, Shiro."

The impostor smiled warmly and Adam felt his hackles rise. He subtly steered Romelle closer to Krolia and kept his pace at a careful stalk. He felt Krolia's eyes pass from him to the impostor, but she didn't say anything. He huffed in frustration, determined to keep his boy and the ones he cared about safe.

Adam was furious. The impostor had lashed out and attacked Keith and the others before fleeing with the galran prince Romelle feared. Now Keith was once again piloting the Black Lion, that noble beast of metal and quintessence. Adam had followed to where the lion waited. The emotions he felt seemed to resonate from within the head of Voltron as well. It had been a simple decision to trust Keith's safety to this beast so similar to himself, but then Keith had gone missing and now he wasn't so sure of his choice.

He paced the bridge of the castle watching in futile agony as Keith's friends fought in vain against Lotor and his generals. Romelle stood to the side while Krolia struggled to get the ship back online. Coran was somewhere below. There was a hum and then the lights were lit. The screens blipped and then Keith was there. His helmet was gone and there was a fresh scar on his cheek, welted and painful. He spoke quickly, then the black lion was there.

Krolia took off running and Adam followed at her side. When they entered the hangar, Keith was lowering the body of the imposter from the lion. "Mom, we need to get him to the healing pod!"

Krolia lifted the unconscious man from Keith's arms and said, "I will. Now go! The others need you!"

As the lion powered back up, Krolia looked at the wolf and said, "Take us to the med ward." Adam touched her leg and they were gone.

Adam felt different. It had been growing stronger since the return of Altea and Daibazaal. Now a year had passed since that time. Keith operated the blades as a relief and rescue operation in honor of his father and to give the agents new purpose now that the old regime they had fought so hard to topple was gone. Krolia and Kolivan supported Keith more now. The way he and Takashi had when he was a cadet.

The other paladins were adjusting to the peace as well. Hunk continued to work as an ambassador. Pidge kept learning all she could to protect worlds should another tyrant emerge. Lance... Adam sighed and put his head on his paws. Looking at Keith as the black lion flew to the landing pad on Altea, he wished they could just talk. Lance wouldn't say it, but he needed Keith. He needed a little bit of chaos the red paladin brought. And enough time had passed. It was time they all moved on.

Takashi... well, Adam was happy for him too. Losing him had been as hard on Takashi as thinking Takashi dead had nearly killed Adam. Now, he was in love again. Curtis. The cute officer from the bridge of the Atlas. Adam knew their wedding was coming up. They were a beautiful couple.

He moaned again. So tired. All the adventures had their toll on him.

That night, Adam watched Keith sprint from his bedroom. The lions roared. He followed Keith outside, but another voice called to him. Turning, he saw the smiling face of 'Bob'. The transcendental being that had sent him on this strange journey. He beckoned to Adam and said his name.

Adam started trotting away from the paladins as the lions faded from sight. His paws transformed and he stood upright. A gasp made him turn. He saw Keith near tears and Takashi covered his mouth. The other paladins were confused and defensive. Smiling softly, Adam said, "Hello, Keith. Hi, Takashi."

"Cosmo?" Keith shook his head and started sprinting. He slammed into Adam's chest, his arms locked around him. Adam had half expected not to be able to touch his boy, but it seemed the universe wasn't that cruel.

Adam hugged Keith and whispered, "You were right. It was only a matter of time until I told you my real name. I'm sorry, Keith, but this is goodbye."

"No! Adam, I can't lose you again!"

Adam looked up at Takashi's words. Smiling down at Keith, he walked toward Shiro. "It's alright, Takashi. I know you'll be fine now. I got to see you again. I watched you become the leader I knew you could be. And I watched you fall in love all over again. You have so much love to offer. It's not my role to fulfill anymore." Adam put a hand on Shiro's shoulder. "I'm not mad anymore. I never was. And when Sam told us about what you'd been through, I knew I had a duty. I died that day... so many years ago. It was only because of Bob that I got to return to take care of Keith and his mother. But now it's time to finally rest."

Adam turned back to Keith. "I'm proud of you and your friends. You are exactly the kind of person I'd hoped you would be. Take care of each other. You're the only ones who know everything you've been through. You're family. And... tell your mother thanks. She was right to let me tell you all of this myself." Lifting his chin. He turned back to Bob. "I'm ready."

Bob offered a hand and Adam walked forward, changing back into the celestial wolf. He started loping, the ground disappearing beneath him. His heart felt light, the light of the universe, and he closed his eyes as it welcomed him home at last.