After an entire afternoon of walking through the Buttercup Plains, the trio of kids stopped at a rocky refuge in the forest where they made a fire and had their supper. Afterwards, they spent the night there, surrounding the crackling fire that lit up the place.

Melissa laid with her back facing the fire and Milo slept with his head on his satchel, murmuring and kicking in his sleep. Zack however remained awake, eyes closed as he breathed steadily. Reopening and then looking at his sleeping friends, he marvelled at how peaceful they look. They must be exhausted. Zack thought with a chuckle, settling down in a lying down position himself.

He tried to close his eyes and go to sleep. It didn't work. He still couldn't sleep.

I walked as long as they did, how am I not tired? Zack frowned and sighed, turning in place. "This sucks…" He muttered and sat up hastily, back facing the fire. Him falling asleep is gonna take a long while. Zack rubbed his eyes and exhaled. He stayed there for a longer time with closed eyes. It went for about thirty minutes until…

"No... No!"

Zack sat up and whipped his head behind him at where Milo laid. To his surprise, the boy was tossing his head side to the side, a hard frown on his face as he muttered in his sleep.

Diogee who had woken up from the commotion was pawing at his owner with a whimper and Zack instinctively went to Milo's side. "Milo?! Milo what's wrong?" He shook Milo's shoulder but the boy didn't budge.

The touch made it worse apparently as Milo's jerking increased and he started to thrash and cry out. "No! He's not bad! He can't be a bad Guardian! You're… You're lying! That can't be him!"

Zack became alarmed in absorbing Milo's words. Oh no... He's having a nightmare! Zack stiffened and he backed away. A terrible nightmare that is. Zack felt afraid, thinking that if he shook him again like just now, Milo will thrash even more in distress.

Diogee whined and gave Zack a pleading look, his front paws on Milo's side. Help me! He appeared to say and he whimpered.

Not knowing what proper he can do, Zack resorted to something he never thought he'd do to a kid he knew for only a day and one night...

Seconds later, the thrashing settled down and Milo's crying grew soft until all became quiet. The scared boy mumbled slightly before he nestled into the dandelion clothed arms and chest of Zack.

Zack sighed quietly and smiled softly at the now calmed boy. "Wow, that must have been a pretty rough nightmare huh?" He suddenly found himself caressing Milo's hair which made him nestle in closer to him. Oh Milo. He smiled and held the boy close. It's only been a short time but… His eyes widened slightly in realization. He closed them knowingly. You know? You're already like a friend. Another brother.

He glanced up towards Melissa's way. You too Melissa. He thought truthfully and rested his head down beside Milo on their sides, arms wrapped around him still.

He felt a wet nose poking him as Diogee tried to snuggle into his arms as well. Silly dog. Zack chuckled and let the dog cuddle up. He ran his fingers across Milo's hair one last time before finally falling asleep after a while of restlessness…

Unknown to him however, Melissa had woken up and slipped out of the cave to gaze at the moon lighting up with incoming dawn.

Not long ago, she had been awake enough to watch the ordeal between her friends - Feeling quite glad that Milo had warmed up to Zack enough to become at ease like that around him. It's about time he opened up to other kids besides her and Zack is the best one so far…

She returned to stare up at the moon and sighed. "I don't know if you can hear me," She muttered. "But I just want you to to know. Whoever you are, Milo's going back to you after you got rid of him thirteen years ago."

She narrowed her eyes and her voice became low with betrayal.

"I don't.. I can't understand. Why? Why did you throw him away?! Why did you throw me away? Away from paradise? Away from home? You're Guardians aren't you? Are Milo and I too weak for you? Are we not good enough for you?"

She hissed slightly and burned her face in her hands. There are so many questions swirling in her mind. That mixed with the hurt of being thrown away by an Anacardian Guardian family settling in.

They don't love us. She glanced over at Milo before back at the ground. This whole journey is pointless. She looked up at the moon. But Milo... He really thinks you'll take him back. He believes you'd want him back. He really wants to know you. She winced. What if the Guardians reject them? She looked back at Milo. He'll be so heartbroken...

Melissa shook her head. No. I can't be so sure. She hardened her expression. There's the word try for a reason and that's exactly what we're doing. She stood up. I don't care if you hate us or not. At least we get to see who and where we originated from!

She turned around and smiled at her sleeping friends.

Zack. Thank you so much for coming with us. Milo... No matter how hard it is, we will meet our true family. Even if the worse happens, even if turns out that they really did disown us, we'll still have each other. And the families who raised us. It won't be that big of a deal since we have someone to go back to. It's not the end of the world!

She glared up at the moon with a more determined stare.

You hear me Guardians? We're not stopping so easily! We can and we will meet again! You just wait and see!

She took a deep breath and with that, let out a bold outcry with the rising sun of dawn.

Meanwhile in Anacardia, the siege is still at large and the two tribes are fighting at their hardest. While the Shadows fought without thinking, the Anacardians stuck to Brick's instruction and fought against individual Shadows as a group of three to four.

By far it was an effective strategy - Two would do the fighting while the third landed a few fists while healing any injuries his fellows received. Despite that however, the strategy can never stop the Shadows that keep adding to their opponent to the point of outnumbering.

As a result, gravely injured Anacardians can already be seen fleeing the battlefield and teleporting to the Evacuation Cave - Bits of their shed blood staining the grass where they fought.

Orton gritted his teeth as he used his arms to hold a Shadow up from stabbing him with his spear. Shooting a beam at the bigger opponent, he managed to send him flying and grabbing the spear, fled in looking for any ally who needed his aid.

"Orton look out!" The distressed cry from Savannah sounded as she too is dealing with her own opponent - a young she-gethen. The woman tried to go to him but the frenzied enemy pinned her down into a wrestle.

"Savannah?" The tawny Guardian's eyes grew wide in seeing his sister and he went forward, only for a dark blast to hit his side, sending him sliding across the ground. Orton groaned from the impact, gasping when he saw three Shadows surrounding him with malicious grins, giving the impression of hyenas that just wounded and are cornering their prey.

"Looks like our tribes meet again, Orton Mahlson." The third Shadow, the crimson-head Sir Bloodpudding, laughed evilly as the aura in his hand started to ignite along with those of his allies. He shrugged casually. "I know how much the King would have wanted to deal with you himself but hm, I thought I'd ought to do him a little favour in roughing you up a bit."

He and the Shadows pointed their open hands at him charged the beam, Orton being too hurt to fly away. "Hasta la Vista, Guardian!" The Shadows cackled as the radiation of their hands grew brighter. This is it. Orton laid there in pained heap, awaiting for the light to take him...

"GET AWAY FROM MY BROTHER!"

Bloodpudding and his comrades raised their heads just in time to see a dark brown, white and orange blur colliding into them. Orton blinked and found Vinnie standing before the fallen Shadows while shielding him. Rage burnt like fueled fire and blue flame in Vinnie's eyes as his hands were ignited in a fiery scarlet aura.

The Shadows gasped in seeing the Second Guardian before resorting to fleeing - Obviously knowing better than to mess with him when angry, causing Orton to give a light smirk.

Savannah and Brick stared from afar after having weakened their opponents. Unlike Orton, they've never really seen or expected to see Vinnie put on such a display - especially not towards the bloodline of that wretched Blockhead who nearly forced himself on him.

It's a wonder that the most gentle and laid-back of their group could possess such rage in desperate and at mysterious times...

"Are you okay Orts?" The rage in Vinnie melted into worry as he knelt to Orton's side. Before he could reply, Vinnie's hand made contact with his scorch wound and he felt the stinging warmth course through - Until the pain and the wound disappeared completely.

Orton flashed Vinnie a thankful smile before they shared a quick hug. "Good thing you actually came," He muttered. "I thought you wouldn't considering that we're fighting against…"

Vinnie shook his head, eyes filled with firm determination. "The Shadows I admit, still scare me to tears. But Shadows who mess with my family is a completely different story." He winked at Orton who simply chuckled. "Now enough talk, let's go kick some Shadow butt!"

With that, the two faced the Shadows and Anacardians still fighting on the battle field - Savannah and Brick included as they helped the weakened Anacardians fight. At once, the two spread ways to defeat the Shadows. With Vinnie, the Anacardians' strength increased by a fraction but the Shadows keep on coming in.

In their frenzy, the Anacardians forgot about Block's inner circle of Shadows - The stronger party of their army. Gretchen, Roger and two other Shadows hovered from above, watching the fight below with narrowed eyes. They have purposely stayed out of the fight in reserving for when the enemy side has grown tougher to down.

They have seen the whole thing. Including Vinnie's sudden arrival. To their disgust, many of their tribe is falling and the Anacardians are getting the upper hand. Gretchen scowled but gave Roger a devious smile. "They really wanna win against us,"

The two glared below. "It's time to unleash plan B,"

Scanning below, she spotted the Guardians fighting Shadows close to each other. She marked the spot and faced her comrades. "Come. Our Tribe is going to win this! We won't lose against them!"

The other Shadows roared and following Gretchen, dove down to the four Guardians with thick trails of smoke emitting from their heels. The smoke clouded the vision of many Anacardians and they tried to find their way through. The Shadows however, have been prepared for this part of the plan and fought against their enemies.

In the smoke, the Shadows have gained the upper hand and with their ability to see through the environment while their opponents can't, knocked out every Anacardian they saw until no one is seen standing.

Somewhere farther, Orton transformed into his falcon form to get rid of the smoke with his wings. When done, he and his siblings stared in horror at the Shadows towering over the unconscious Anacardians and Pistachions they defeated.

"No..." Orton dropped down and morphed into his normal form in shock. Vinnie, Brick and Savannah were just as stiff as he is. "We lost." Savannah whispered with a hand covering her mouth.

A low groaning entered the ears of the Guardians and they found Balthazar's Friday job colleagues, Mr Brulee and Lawrence Fletcher, limping up to them. Both covered with scratches, wounds and scorches. "We're terribly sorry your majesties," Lawrence choked out. "The smoke... The Shadows..." He breathed shakily and Mr Brulee spoke on his behalf. "The Shadows are tough! They can see through the smoke but we can't!"

The two appeared stiffened at an incoming something from behind the Guardians and stumbled back where they were held up by Shadows. The sound of slow clapping filled the air and Gretchen appeared with Roger and the other members of Block's inner circle. "Looks like your lowly people has finally surrendered to our strength," She crooned. "Look around, everyone except our people is toast."

Roger smirked. "You're the only ones standing Guardians. The four of you against all of us. Why don't you just give up and let us beat you." All the Shadows glared at the last enemies with malicious eyes.

Stepping forward, Orton snarled and broke free from Savannah and Vinnie's grasps as they tried to hold him back. "We'll never surrender to you, you filthy pieces of scum! You won't get away with this!"

Gretchen growled threateningly but before she could speak, the other trio have regained their guts from Orton's outburst and they shot blasts of scarlet, cyan and dark grey at the Shadows. Gretchen and her comrades shrieked from the impact as Orton took the second long chance, getting to his feet.

"Fly for it!" He ordered and quickly glanced at the others. "Brothers! Blast them to weaken them and sister! Cast your Aura Sphere to trap them!"

All got their respective tasks and flew up. Before they could do a thing however, they were met with a sharp piercing to the back and fell from the blow, knocked out.

Orton was the last to be shot and he landed on top of Vinnie, trying to fight the incoming drowsiness but to no avail. Soon he was unable to resist and his vision blurred, the last thing seen being Gretchen and the Shadows roaring in victory before collecting their 'trophies'...

"Orton? Orton wake up! Come on!"

The tawny haired man groaned slightly and rose from what felt like a gravelly floor. "What..?" He supported his upper front with one arm and looked around wearily. Brick, Savannah and Vinnie appeared to have just woken up before him and were standing around their brother in concern.

"Thank Vera you're awake!" Vinnie knelt down briefly to help him up. "Are you okay?"

Orton gave his siblings a look, gritting his teeth slightly. "I've felt better." He dusted at his clothes before looking around with a frown. The cell they were in resembled the interior of a small cave. The rocks are dark as charcoal like the ground they stepped on. He had no idea where they are. "Where are we?" He questioned the three.

"Have no idea." Brick was there first to answer as he glanced at an exit up ahead. "But one thing's for sure is that those Shadows really want to keep us where we are,"

Orton said nothing as he slowly edged his way forward. His fingers brushed against one of the rough, steel ebony bars that vertically lined the exit of their prison. It was a gate. No padlock. Nothing. Apparently sealed with Shadow magic. He tried to charge a beam to destroy the bars but nothing came...

"They put a restraint spell on us," Orton muttered and looked over his shoulder at the others - who tried to do their magic as well, only to get the same result as their brother. "You don't say," Savannah murmured and sighed frustratingly. "At least they didn't chain is or something. In keeping us in this cell, they also made us sitting Mortals."

A faint glow of scarlet caught them off guard as Vinnie raised his hands, the said body parts ignited in scarlet light and it formed a spherical shape. The Second Guardian showed his siblings. "At least we can still conjure shields," The glow in his hands died down.

"Looks like the Shadows just put a restraint on only our attack magic. They... " His voice trailed off with increasing anxiety as a terrible memory resurfaced in his mind. Before anyone could say, Vinnie's pupils have shrunk into pinpricks and he started to hyperventilate.

Orton noticed and was at Vinnie's side in an instant. "Breathe in, breathe in…" He soothed while gently patting Vinnie's back. The Second Guardian's rushed breaths slowed after several and Orton let him go into his arms.

Brick and Savannah stared in worry and sympathy for him. While they could have stepped up to do that immediately themselves, they noticed that since his homecoming, it was always Orton whose shoulder Vinnie is eager to lean on during times like this.

The two of them knew something that they don't. They knew, but out of respect, moved on from the thought of bothering them for information. After all, whatever it is, it'll only make them regret listening if said out… That and they don't want to put Vinnie into more pain from recalling an awful time.

Vinnie breathed shakily into the brown uniform fabric of his brother. "I'm sorry…" He finally whispered exclusively for Orton's ears after a while of trembling silence. "It's just, I just remembered… That night. With him." He whimpered slightly and Orton squeezed him tighter. "I couldn't attack him. I couldn't do.. Anything!" He wept into the brother's shoulder while he devotedly kept to rubbing the older's back.

They stayed that way for a while longer until Vinnie regained composure. He weakly looked up at Brick and Savannah who stood close. "It's okay Vinnie. We got you," Savannah held him tight. Brick nodded fiercely and cracked his knuckles. "Block will never get his hands on you again. Not under my watch!"

"Thanks, you two." Replied Vinnie quietly with a weary smile.

"No problem,"

The plumpish Guardian took a deep breath and following Orton's gaze, settled on outside the cell, frowning in taking in the place as did the others. The dusty flooring surrounded with high seating areas outside resembled what looked like an arena he's seen and heard of in the books. The Arena of Doom. He realized. As far as he can recall, the only times this place is ever used is during the Saquine Games

Across their cell, several more holes sealed with bars similar to theirs, contained all the other Anacardians and Pistachions that took part in their war.

"Hey guys, looks like everyone else is here too, " All the Guardians crowded at the bars where their eyes met with the hundreds of familiar faces in their tribe. In the several other cells, the tired looking Anacardian fighters can be seen looking back at their Guardians as Orton spoke up. "Is everyone alright?!" His voice echoed throughout the place.

To his relief, everyone else voiced out the positive answers. "They're okay," He murmured to the trio with him. The Fifth Guardian stiffened when his eyes cast on about three particular cells that contained different looking groups of prisoners.

The people those cells contained - All bore dark, villager-like clothing and robes and if looked closely, some among the group can be seen with long claws that peered from under their long sleeves.

One particular man in the center cell caught Orton's attention. The soft eyes. The Vampire-like features. The face he met when he was at his worst the night Milo was lost forever…

"…Drako?"

Kyle blinked from his cell and immediately found the source of his name's mention. His downed facial expression lit up upon recognizing the quartet of Guardians. "Guardians! It's.. It's you!" The Half-Blood Gethen gripped on the bars and his gaze fixated across them. Alongside him, the other Gethens, his tribe members, crowded at the bars to see.

The Guardians for the first time in their time in the cell, felt relief from seeing their only Gethen friend. Vinnie noticed the several other Gethens in Kyle's cell and in the other two beside that. "I don't understand... What are you, and what are they, doing here?" He questioned in concern. "Those Shadows, they're your kind aren't they? Why would they lock you up?" Brick added in disbelief.

At this, Kyle can be seen doing a hardened frown as he exchanged looks with a few other Gethens behind him. Kyle sighed and shook his head. "Those awful beings who trapped and dragged you all here? They are not us and we are definitely not them."

The Guardians watched the Halfblood grow shaky with growing hostility with his words. "They have really gone down the wrong path now. King Block has really corrupted their hearts with that madness of his - I tried to talk to them but they wouldn't listen!"

Kyle lowered his head. "My people and I, we've already suspected of this siege happening upon all of you and we were meaning to give you a warning so you can be ready to defend yourselves," His voice grew quieter. "But before we could do that, the Shadows… They captured us so none of you will know their evil plans... I'm so sorry."

At the last word, Kyle's adoptive daughter Amanda, followed by her bespectacled brother Bradley, immediately wrapped her arms around their father in consoling. "It's okay Papi, you tried." Said the girl softly. Bradley nodded at his surrogate sister. "

The Guardians and their tribe members were rendered silent by this revelation. In their hearts, they felt disturbance at how brutal the Shadows following Block's rule have become and they were washed over with pity for the remaining kind Gethens like Kyle, his children and his people.

"Kyle.. Thank you ever so much," Orton gave him a pained smile. "I... Knowing that you have been living and attempting to do something that's against the new ways of your tribe.. It is something that all of us are eternally grateful for." His brothers and sister nodded in agreement. "Orton's right," Vinnie placed a hand on the shoulder of said brother. "Sure your plan didn't go as you thought but hey, knowing that there's a small group of real Gethens out there, it makes us really glad, get what I mean?"

He chuckled weakly and his siblings pressed close to his sides. "In honesty, I'll have to admit, ever since Block trapped me in your land and nearly forced me to be his Mate, I pretty much, never thought of any good folk existing in his race and that all have become evil like him... Until I met you that is!" He flashed Kyle a grin. "You, you helped my brothers come home. It was only one night then but I really started to like you! You're a remarkable one of your kind, Kyle Drako. Your queen Tenebri will be so proud,"

The Gethen prisoners voiced out in agreement to Vinnie's words and Kyle smiled slightly. "I couldn't just let Block keep harming you Anacardians. You see, back when I first heard of your race being said to be responsible for our queen's death, I could not believe it. I couldn't explain exactly why but I just felt it. That's how I came to the conclusion that you are all innocent but were cruelly branded by the king as murderers nonetheless,"

He pulled Amanda and Bradley close.

"So I shared this with my kids, friends, and all the few who'd listen to me. They all realized and had the same feeling I've had so we stuck together ever as a small group after that, looking out for all of you whenever we could, knowing it is what our dear queen would desire from us…" He sighed. "If only her son could realize that and reflect it upon everyone else. Then we wouldn't be so torn apart like this. Outcasts like us. Shunned away from a Family that could have been - For doing the right thing as his mother would wish."

The Gethens' heads all lowered in silent mourning with the Anacardians watching them sympathetically. "Kyle's a great guy. Look at him," Savannah's features grew soft. "He's a family man and he's leading some rebels down the bright path."

"They're a lot better than Gretchen and all her company," Brick bitterly hissed. "I swear if anything, I think the real Gethen crown would fit the head of that Vampire-Gethen a lot better - at least he knows how to not blame us without the right evidence!"

His eyes fell upon Orton who appeared to be glaring hard at something outside. Brick frowned. "Uh Orton? You've been pretty quiet. Is there something wrong?" Savannah and Vinnie rose and instinctively cast their eyes upon the said brother.

Orton said nothing but the trio got their answer.

Loud footsteps belonging to a large group of Shadows pounded the ground, causing all the Anacardians, except the Guardians and Kyle and his tribe, to quickly back away deeper into their cells. The Guardians stood their ground and scowled nastily at Gretchen who stood right in front of their cell with a proud smirk, with Roger and another male Shadow at her sides.