"It's not evil, Meinir," Emilia said reassuringly as the older girl stared at the cup of coffee with intense worry.

"The gods commanded that wolfbloods should only drink water," Meinir answered, "I have sinned so many times since being here that if I was sent to the Kronock for a month I still wouldn't have repented enough."

"You haven't sinned," Emilia replied in a slightly panicked voice, "And Matei is a much bigger sinner-he's practically addicted to chocolate milkshakes."

Meinir laughed, "Well if they're as good as the coffee in here then I will turn a blind eye to his sins."

She looked around her. They were at the Kafe- Jana's home and workplace, her territory. It still hurt to look at all the bright colours and lights and the noise could be so overwhelming that at times it gave Meinir a headache. But the coffee made it all better- that sweet elixir of the devil.

"So tell me," Emilia began excitedly, "I want to know everything. What are fire-walkers? Why are they so special? What is my destiny?"

Meinir smiled, "Well little cerddwr tân. Where to start? I was only your age when my mam told me all of the pack legends, see in the wild, beta wolves, like myself, we have three options as to how we can serve the pack. We can become healers, hunters or occasionally priest and priestesses. My mam wanted my to be a priestess. And well, it's not great secret that I thought I could do much better than that. I even challenged Jana for leadership once. I was Alric's heir too once, well before Jana was born. Jana's mam, Arianne, she was Alric's enaid cymar alffa and really alpha's aren't supposed to make love matches unless their enaid cymar is especially strong and powerful and can do Ancian and Eolas. Arianne was only barely a beta wolf and her Eolas was weak at best.

"But my mam taught me all the legends. I never thought I'd get to meet a cerddwr tân."

"So what makes us so special?" Emilia asked.

"Well asides from a lack of a fear of fire," Meinir began, taking a sip of her coffee, "The legends say that you can take fire from others, bend it to your will and most importantly, destroy it."

"What is that even supposed to mean?" Emilia pondered.

Meinir shrugged, "It was just meant to be poetic nonsense, and no one took it seriously until you came along. The likelihood is that it's half truth half-rubbish and you shouldn't take it seriously. But don't worry you still have an important destiny."

Emilia smiled, "I just wish I knew what it was."

"You will soon enough," Meinir answered.

Emilia nodded understandingly, "There's only one thing that worries me- it sounds so stupid in light of all the other things I should be worried about."

"If it worries you then it is important," Meinir said seriously and with a concerned expression on her face, "Go on."

"Well, you get stared at," Emilia began awkwardly, "But you don't seem to care. How do you just ignore the comments?"

Meinir sighed with a smile, "Well, it's not easy, carriad. I guess I spend most of my time worrying about Aran, because I'm older than him and it's my job protect him, so I don't get so much time to worry about myself. But whenever I am trouble, I just remind myself of my wolf- what it feels like to run wild on a full moon and to use Eolas and Ancian to be one with my pack- and then I can't help but feel sorry for those humans because they don't get to see the beauty that we see."

"But they don't hate me for being a wolfblood," Emilia argued, "They hate me because of my scars."

"Only a fool would hate you," Meinir said, reaching out to touch the young girl's face, "We know the truth. No great wolfblood leader ever ruled without threats on his leadership. Remind yourself of what you know to be true, about your role as a cerddwr tân, and remember that when they attack, they are not attacking you but rather the idea of you that they have in their heads. And that idea couldn't be more wrong."

Emilia smiled, "I wish I could stay in the wild. But I think I'd miss Matei and Jana too much."

"If I'd stayed here," Meinir began, "I would have missed Aran so badly that- well it is such cowardice to do such things but I wouldn't have wanted to carry on my life without him. Jana is lost here. If we can convince her to go back to the wild, then Matei will follow too and you'll everything you want, carriad. But don't put all your hope on the happening. If they decide not to, then it's up to you what you choose, whether or not you could leave your brother behind."

Emilia nodded, "But I'd find out more about who I am, about the fire walkers, I mean."

Meinir smiled sympathetically, she could understand Emilia's excitement at the idea. But she was older, no longer a cub trying to find who she was meant to be, and she had a good amount of well deserved battle scars too. Meinir knew that Emilia might not make the right decision. Yes, she would have Cadwr and Gwyn and herself, and likely Aran too if she ever stopped constantly asking him questions about the wild. She'd find out her destiny a lot easier in the wild. But she's seen the way that Matei and Emilia interacted- the way that Matei would never leave her side, no matter how much Emilia yelled at him to back off, the way that both knew what each other wanted to eat or drink even before that person said it, the way that Matei would sing to Emilia as she fell asleep. She wasn't about to let one quick and careless remark rip the sibling apart.

"Come on, let's go down that human thing called shopping," Meinir suggested, taking Emilia's hand in hers.

All she could do was hope that Jana changed her mind.

Otherwise... Well... Meinir didn't want to think about it."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

TJ cussed as he once again covered himself in glitter, earning a laugh from Selina and an eye roll from Rhydian.

"Hey, no fair," TJ said, "Just because you're the art student, Rhydian, doesn't mean you have a right to laugh at me."

"You better not be getting glitter all over the floor," Katrina nagged, "I only moped two hours ago. God, I miss Jana so much. That couple came in again today, the ones that always order the fancy steak dish and I swear I almost lost it. I mean only Jana knows how to cook rare steaks properly. I didn't have a clue. I just wish there was some magic potion that could make her suddenly better and have her running around here again."

"Full moons?" Shannon asked Maddy quietly.

Maddy shook her head, "A broken arm or leg yes. But brain damage, no, wolfblood healing has it's limitations."

Shannon nodded understandingly, "I was working with the haematology lab earlier today. They accidentally gave me Jana's results."

Maddy smiled, "Go on."

"Well apart from slightly elevated white blood counts," Shannon replied, "Jana's blood sugars are just into the normal range now and as for her salt levels, they've improve so much."

"And what about Jana's moods?" Maddy asked, "That's what's concerning every. Ceri wanted Jana sent away because she thought Jana would be in too much danger transforming in Stoneybridge."

"Jana will likely be a morwal this month," Rhydian added, overhearing the conversation, "So she will be transforming in a highly secure location. We just don't know where it is yet. It might even be in Norway. And Imara said that she'd arrange for her whole pack to be there if possible. So that Jana is safe, but also comfortable."

"They are going to try this new technique," Shannon answered, "Cranial electrotherapy stimulation. Using electric currents to alter brain waves."

"It sounds all a little," Rhydian began, "Experimental. My mum wants a definite solution."

"They are going to give her tablets to steady her dopamine levels, they are also stopping her drinking coffee for the same reason- which has been so much fun, trust me," Shannon said, "And well it's been suggested that... Well really it may well end up killing two birds with one stone."

"Go on," Maddy asked confused.

"Well everyone knows that Matei and Jana are a couple," Shannon said timidly, "And Rhydian, they aren't cubs anymore so you can stop looking like you want to kill Matei."

Rhydian shoved his hands in his pockets to hid the dark black veins.

"Birth control?" Maddy asked doubtfully.

"It can help reduce mood swings," Shannon replied, "And damage to the hypothalamus can affect... Well you know."

"Poor Matei," Maddy replied, "He probably doesn't have a clue what to expect next."

"I wouldn't be so sorry for him," Rhydian answered angrily, "He's probably chuffed about being so close to reaching second base."

"Oh grow up," Maddy replied, with an eye roll, "Matei was broken when Jana nearly died. He was in emotional shock for hours. He even had to be tranquillised and he's spent weeks in intensive therapy. He's not some player, according to your own mum, he's her enaid cymar alffa."

"Wasn't I that?" Rhydian replied, "A couple of years ago."

"Look, I know you don't like him," Shannon replied, "But I've compared Jana's blood tests and vital signs both when he's there and when he isn't, and there's a massive difference. So if them too be all smoochy and being all over each other is going help Jana recover faster then so be as far as I'm concerned."

"She's like a sister to me, Shannon," Rhydian argued, "It's my job to protect her and I've failed her so far. I'm not about to let some guy toy with her heart, enaid cymar alffa or not."

Shannon rolled her eyes, "Matei didn't mean for Jana to fall. You should apologize for beating him up."

Rhydian sighed, "Ok, fine. But if Jana shows any sign whatsoever that she's upset with Matei's advances then I'll obliterate him."

Maddy rolled her eyes, "Whatever, Rhydian. Matei's not the enemy."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

"I don't understand, I thought she was getting better," Matei said in a panicked tone to Doctor Whitewood as she took Jana's pulse.

Matei could hear it himself, fast but thankfully even. But he was still concerned, Jana was boiling hot, her forehead sweaty and her cheeks flushed red, she was lethargic but also restless and had kicked the blankets off repeatedly. She had also been drinking loads of water- something which Matei would have stopped her doing in the past, but now he had no idea what he should be doing.

Dr Whitewood adjusted the IV, "We'll have to make sure she gets enough of the saline and glucose solutions. In all fairness Matei, we were expecting something like this. Her white blood cells level were elevated, it's quite common for people with Jana's injury to suffer from an unrelated illness. We'll run some blood tests but it just looks like a bad case of a cold or possibly some kind of a flu. Don't beat yourself up about it, you couldn't have done anything to prevent it."

Matei sat on the edge of the bed, and waited for Doctor Whitewood to leave before kicking off his shoes and taking off his coat and lying down next to Jana. She was so warm!

"Hush," he said to her as Jana began to mumble, "Just rest."

"I'm sorry," Jana said, in a muffled voice, "The first day of your school holidays and I had to go and get the flu."

Matei shook his head, "Don't say that."

"But I wanted to practise walking again," Jana complained, "I was so close, Matei, so close yesterday. If I wasn't so scared I would have taken a step."

"We'll do the exercises later," Matei said, "If you feel up to it. But for now, just sleep."

Jana rolled over to rest her head on Matei's shoulder and place a hand on his chest.

"Gods, you're cold Matei!" Jana said, " And your hands, they're like a freezer. You're not ill too, are you?"

"No, I just lost my bus pass," Matei explained, "So I walked. And as for my hands, well I have Raynauds, circulatory problems."

"Well I guess that could come in handy today," Jana said with a sly smile, "Oh come on, everyone already thinks we're you know... And the way they were talking about how the more time we spend together the quicker I seem to be getting better. Who knows what would happen if...?"

"Jana, that's not you talking, remember," Matei responded, "It's the illness, it's making you say things like that. Things you don't really mean."

Jana felt tears sting her eyes, "How can you know for certain?"

"I know your heart by heart too, fy enaid cymar alffa," Matei replied, "And I know that the well Jana would be resting right now, not thinking about stuff like that."

Jana sighed, "It's all so confusing. I don't even really know who I am anymore."

"Then trust me to know," Matei replied, "Trust me to make the right choices for us. Rest now, fy enaid cymar alffa."

Jana nodded again Matei's chest, tickling his chin with her curly wild hair. Everything was so much easier when Matei was there.

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

"And then I got this," Meinir told Aran excitedly as he wore a pained expression on his face.

He looked at the jacket disapprovingly, "That's just impractical. How is that going to protect you during a snow storm?"

"Fashion is rarely practical, Aran," Meinir replied with an eye roll, and put an arm around his shoulders. They were walking back from Matei and Emilia's, where they had dinner earlier to the den on the outskirts of the city.

"Noted," Aran said, looking down at the pair of trainers he was wearing. Well at least he wasn't dressed like TJ or Matei. How they survived in the winter he never could guess? And how they attracted girls, dressed like that, showing a complete disregard for any kind of planning for the season at all. In the wild pack no sensible wolfblood woman would marry a man who was such an idiot.

"If we are staying here," Meinir began, "We'll need to blend in. That means skinny jeans, cashmere jumpers and duffle coats for me and trainer and hoodies for you. You should be thankful for Amanda and John's generosity, they've been constantly feeding us, letting us stay at theirs whenever they can, and now buying us clothes too. They are like a second set of parents."

Aran smiled, "I am grateful to them. And I agree, I can't go around dressed like a ruffian or like Matei either. But it's all a bit much considering we may well be leaving soon. And you're forgetting that you get to spend all your time with Emilia. I know she's like a younger sister to you. Instead I have to put up with Matei, and Jana is wrong, he does snore and he also constantly says her name in his sleep. I swear he never takes a break from talking about her."

"That's enaid cymar alffas for you," Meinir answered, "I thought you'd found your enaid cymar anyway?"

"May," Aran said with a shy smile, "What have I told you about teasing me about that?"

Meinir rolled he eyes, "There's no shame in it. Times have changed. Two years ago Alric would have exploded at the idea of Jana dating a tame. Now, he's planning their wedding and even has drawn up a list of approved names."

"How many names?" Aran asked with a concerned look.

"Twelve at last count," Meinir answered, "And he'll no doubt be expecting Jana to make good use of all of them. Mostly I feel sorry for Matei, his Welsh is terrible, no matter what Jana says, the vows are tricky."

"Well at least he's no longer calling you Men-eer," Aran answered, "How many times do we have to tell them it's May-neer?"

Meinir smiled, "It's hard for them to pronounce Welsh names."

"You know I always wondered how Jana got a German name?" Aran pondered.

"German grandmother," Meinir said.

Aran nodded understandingly, "Jana, will be alright? Won't she?"

Meinir nodded, "You probably don't remember much of when she was a baby. She used to keep all of us up all night with her crying. And then she'd be so fussy about who could hold her, or feed her, or when she would go outside. Let's put it this way, a baby who screams that loud, won't go down without a fight. And let's put it this way, Jana is still being waited on paw and fang like the little alpha's heir she's always been been. Nothing's changed all that much."

Aran smiled, "I guess not."

"It's Emilia I worry about," Meinir said, "I think she'll come with us, no matter if Jana decides to stay or go."

"And where Jana goes, Matei goes," Aran added, "Gods help them all."

Meinir nodded, "I won't just abandon the girl. She relies on me so much for reassurance. And her brother can't really understand what it means to be a young female wolfblood going from being a cub to being an adult. Neither can her foster parents. She needs a mentor, they same way Ceri was with Jana."

Aran nodded, "And I'll need , what are they called again, ear plugs."

Meinir let out a loud laugh, "She's not that bad Aran, but I do sense change is in the wind. I just hope none of the trees are blown down by the gust."

BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK_BREAK

"Matei Covaci!" he heard a woman yell loudly, and woke up suddenly, jumping out of bed too quickly. His head spinning.

The lights snapped on a second later to reveal an angry looking Imara, and a worried looking Amanda and Emilia behind her.

"You've worried your foster mother and your sister sick," Imara began in earnest, "I know you love Jana dearly but if you are going to stay out all evening at least call them to tell them that you are still alive."

"Imara, please," Amanda began, "Matei clearly just feel asleep. He's hardly TJ."

Imara sighed, "I might not have been the nicest to Jana in the past, Amanda, but I do care about that girl and I won't Matei thinking that this is the place where he can get away with everything and anything."

"I'm pretty sure he was just asleep the whole time," Amanda defended him, "Matei wouldn't dream of doing anything like that."

Matei blushed at the idea. Of course, now he thought to himself. How it must have look- him with his arms around Jana, she wearing only a thin nightgown- decorated with pictures of little teddy bears.

Matei couldn't help smiling as he saw her, fast asleep despite Imara's yelling, still hugging that red stuff wolf toy.

"Has her fever broken yet?" Emilia asked.

Matei shook his head.

Emilia took one of Jana's hands in her own, "I'm sure it's nothing serious."

"Not at all serious," Dr Whitewood answered, "Just a bad cold. She'll be much better by tomorrow. I'm just worried about the fever, given that she can't regulate her body temperature all that well. It might set her back a little."

Emilia looked confused, "I'm not sure why you are so worried? She's not even that warm."

"What are you on about, Emilia?" Matei asked in confusion, "She's been burning up all day."

Matei placed a hand on Jana's forehead, she was warm but not feverish, her fever surely couldn't have broken in the space of seconds?

Emilia bit her lip nervously, "I think I might have done something. Something to do with fire-walkers and something Meinir said about their abilities and the legends."

"You need to tell us everything that Meinir said to you," Imara commanded.

Emilia nodded, looking down at her hands. Who on earth was she?