My shoulder still throbs from where Zahir crashed into me. The force of the impact had sent me into the stone wall and scraped the skin until it was angry red in color. I had honestly forgotten about him during my time with Amon. A few years away from unpleasant people usually serves to do that. He hadn't been at our acceptance ceremony when Zara brought us into the Niran clan, either. I hadn't even thought about him until I saw him in the hall, and that was just a passing regret that he's still here. I definitely didn't expect him to do this.

He sneers down at me, slit pupils narrowed in his red eyes and canines bared in disgust. He dislikes anything to do with Zara, especially the 'Dioscuri brats who hide behind her skirts'. It's a passing moment of distress, caused more by disgruntled shock than anything else. Zahir is a decently powerful Niran, but I'm not afraid of him. Especially since I can sense Salos not too far away. His immediate flare of possessive rage is something I wish this bully could feel. Maybe then he'd stop throwing his weight around. It really is unfortunate that he looks so much like Adar. While he and Zara share a grandfather, I honestly wish he didn't have such a family resemblance.

"You're in my way, girl."

My eyebrows lift a bit. Ah, I see. Before I went to train with Amon, before he'd taught me that being a grown up meant having more of a backbone than I did, I might have cried at that. I had a reputation as the resident crybaby. Now, though...now I've seen a bit too much of war and grown a little too tall for that to work. Can't he see that I'm up to his chest? I'm not some little kid running around at waist height now. Salos is still unfairly huge in comparison, but that's beside the point.

I draw myself up to my full height, feeling an echo of Zara's concern and anger through the newly-established bond. She must be on her way, too. I hope my surprise didn't interrupt her while she was doing something important.

"This hallway is more than wide enough for two people," I intone, channeling a bit of Amon's serenity and tempering it with just a little of Zagan's disdain, "I think you take enjoyment in being rude."

His face convulses and he steps forward to loom over me. I look up at him, unconcerned. Really, now? Intimidation tactics? Again, that might have worked on me before. As it is, all I can think is that I'd like to stick my antlers up that nose he's looking down and see if that changes his tune.

"You might think that you've got power because Solomon dotes on your little half-breed, but don't let it go to your head. That thing had no right accepting you into the clan. Weaklings holding the hands of weaklings shouldn't act like they can do anything. If you were worth having, maybe your own people would still be alive. But they're not," his expression takes on a cast of mock-pity, "They're all dead, because they were a weak, worthless people who couldn't do anything but serve as a stepping stone for the Church. You and your brother are just the little cockroaches who managed to survive. Adar is blind if he can't see you for what you are."

All sense of maturity gained through Amon's instruction fades away. Zara had warned me that Zahir was generally harmless except for his sharp tongue. He takes sick joy in using his words to tear others down. While normally I might have brushed it off, the way I do when Sabnack tries to insult me, this is a little too close to the mark. His words bring back the memories of that day. The fires raging through our forest home. The adults of our race in their combined forms, using claw and antler to fight a force that far outnumbered them. The feeling of Dioscuri blood in my hair and the realization that I would never see my mother or father or aunt and uncle again. He gives a sharp reminder that, even though Zara took us into the clan, Salos and I are not Niran. We are the last of an extinct people.

I don't believe anything he says in an attempt to bring down my self esteem, but the reminder of the loss of my people is too much. Tears prick my eyes and then spill over as their screams echo in my ears, ghosts of my childhood that continue to haunt even now. Zahir's lips curve nastily and part to speak again.

Salos comes around the corner like a wrecking ball. I sense more than see him barrel into Zahir. Before our training, Zahir was bigger than Salos, though not by much. Now, Salos towers over him, especially with the added height of his antlers. My brother takes the Niran down from behind even as he turns to face him. Zahir hits the ground with an outraged cry and a gross-sounding crack of his head against the stone. Then Salos is on him, straddling his stomach and using his weight advantage to keep him pinned. Zahir bullying me was bad enough to get him going, but the stuff he said about our people? It has Salos huffing like a bull that's seen red. I look down in something like surprise, blinking away my tears. So much for not being a crybaby anymore. Oh well.

Salos's fist meets Zahir's face, a sharp crack marking the breaking of his nose. His other hand follows quickly, splitting his lip. While Salos's training in Amon's city focused on magic rather than physical combat, he never lost his capability to brawl. Especially since Adar has been training him since our return. A third punch blackens Zahir's eye. The Niran writhes beneath Salos, hissing and spitting. His claws gouge at my brother's arms, raking dark lines in pale skin. Blood, closer to purple than red, wells in the cuts. Salos pays it no mind, too focused on disfiguring the Niran who had spoken to me so callously.

I'm about to step in when Zara rounds the corner next with Ugo and Solomon in tow. Zara paused, looking conflicted. Our bond must have called her. I hadn't meant for it to. If all of them are here, they must have been in a meeting together. It might be a good thing that they all came, though. Solomon and Ugo are two of the few who can actually talk to my brother and be heard. Our leader surveys the scene, his eyes narrowing as he realizes what occurred. Zahir is a bully, so it isn't hard to guess. He steps forward, catching Salos' arm.

"Really, Salos, I understand your desire to rearrange his face," Solomon shoots the Niran a glare, his eyes not softening despite the state Salos has left him in.

I shift while he speaks, no longer truly listening, and quietly move myself to stand by Ugo. I'm still upset from what Zahir said, and Ugo was the one who helped save us from the genocide of our people. He looks down at me, eyebrows raised in surprise when I slip my hand into his. I may look like an adult now, but there's a part of me that will always be a little girl when he's there. Seeing my still-teary eyes, he accepts the touch, closing his larger hand around mine.

Salos and Zara both snarl in response to something Zahir says to Solomon, their anger ricocheting through our bond. Salos's is nearly overwhelming, Zara's is a new feeling, mixing with his into something cloying. I squeeze Ugo's hand and wince at the feeling. He squeezes back once before letting go and reaching forward to snag Salos and Zara before they can do permanent damage to Zahir.

"Now you two, remember this is a time to be celebrating not fighting. Just ignore him and go about your day. We have a party to plan and feast to prepare. After all, you just got two new siblings and that's a great thing to celebrate."

He smiles at both of them and pulls them into a hug, his tall frame engulfing Zara while Salos stands awkwardly with one arm wound tightly around him. It takes them a moment to settle, but when they do it's very obvious. Zara practically deflates while Salos slumps slightly. Once he's sure they aren't going to murder anyone, he lets them go, patting them both on the head. Then he turns to me, his hands gently cupping my face as he uses his thumbs to brush my tears away. I turn into that little girl a bit more when Ugo does things like this. He reminds me of a fond relative, gently wiping away the hurts. He might not be used to people initiating physical contact, but once he gets going, he's fine.

"I don't know what he said or did but you have your brothers and sister here and they care about you. Don't let one bad apple ruin your day, Mina-me," he murmurs, shifting one hand to stroke my bangs out of my eyes.

When he's bent down like this, I can see that he's wearing one pair of glasses and has two more on top of his head. He always forgets that he shoves them up there and then goes to get another pair. He's so quirky sometimes, but his smile puts me at ease. It has ever since Salos and I first met him.

Zara grabs my hand and passes it over to Salos. I relax at his touch, feeling my initial hurt slip away. Our people might be gone, but Ugo's right. We have a new family. And Zahir can talk all he wants, but he can't change it. The Niran people have mostly accepted us, aside from a few dissenters, and Ugo and Solomon and the others have always cared for us. I look at Zara, who literally followed us until we finally accepted her. Her ears flicker and she motions with her head toward another hall.

"Why don't you two find Gramps or Aunt Serafina and make sure that they don't go overboard?" she closes her eyes for a moment, "Mostly Serafina."

I nod. Serafina can be a terror, as my brother and I have learned from our time staying with Adar. At least she means well. I pull Salos away, my brother content to go with me as he focuses his efforts on soothing me. I return the sentiment until all that flows between us is love and comfort. I turn and look back at the others one last time, taking them in. Solomon looks back with those expressive blue eyes, full of care and concern. When our gazes meet, he smiles, the smile that has served as a light in our world. Ugo gives an encouraging nod, waving to us. Zara looks back with an unhappy expression, and I know that she'll be handling Zahir once we're around the corner. I face forward again, leading my brother deeper into our base, turning my thoughts to the much needed celebration that comes at such a desperate time during our war with the Church.

Salos, they're family. And Zahir was never a real threat. Why would you hide that….?

It's not like I picked through each one, Mina. It was a mass seal...

"You know, Mina, you've really grown up a lot. Amon did a good job teaching you."

I smile at Ugo's praise, turning to face him. In front of me, a number of makeshift targets stand smoking from holes left by searing light. It's one of my few attack spells. The past few hours have been filled with Ugo's tests of my magic, which he's been kind enough to give despite his busyness. He's pushed my endurance, strength, versatility, and anything else he could think to test. He even had me do some very low-risk sparring with him using the illusory clones Adar had taught me to make when he visited us in Amon's city. While the Niran use heat magic for their illusions, the same effect can be achieved using light. I can now successfully create realistic images of those I know well. Animating them is a bit harder, but I've managed to get a clone of myself to move as if it were launching a spell. Ugo was surprised by that one, though I still didn't manage to tag him with an attack. He's just too experienced for that.

"You've done really well with your borg, too. That was honestly the thing I was most worried about."

Borgs are simple spells for most magicians, learned at an early age and drilled until it's a reflexive thing to use one. Simple light magic. For me, learning it at a later age, it was more difficult. Amon didn't rest until I could manage one that withstood Salos dropping a tree on it and Zagan spraying it with some kind of plant acid. Then, when that was accomplished, he'd doused it in fire. That had been terrifying. Still, now I have a working borg.

"Thanks. Amon spent a lot of time on that one."

Ugo nods, a bit distractedly. I can tell from the look in his eye that the gears in his mind are turning. They rarely aren't turning, but he's thinking hard about something right now. He looks at me hard, eyes wandering to the Staff in my hand as he considers something.

"What is it?" I ask, cocking my head.

He goes to speak, expression lighting up. I hold up a hand to stop him. I know that expression, too. Whatever he's about to say has got him excited, which means he's going to talk over my head without meaning to.

"And remember, I'm not as smart as you," I say with a smile.

He huffs, reeling himself back.

"You're plenty smart, Mina, but I'll tone down the science terms," pushing his glasses up, he approaches, "I was just thinking, with your borg being what it is now and your ability to create projections, you could, in theory, project a borg."

I frown slightly. I've never seen a mage project a borg. I've seen monstrously large borgs created by many people working together and I've seen Sheba manipulate her borg like a weapon, but I've never seen anyone create one at a distance from themselves. Still, Ugo's theory makes sense…and he's one of the most brilliant mages the world has ever seen, so I trust him to know what he's talking about.

"So, like...if you were over there and I wanted to shield you, I could project it?"

He nods excitedly, glad that I'm following along.

"Yes! Following this theory, you could even layer your borg around yourself. It would take a lot of magic control, and a lot of practice, but I think you're capable. Amon focused a lot on magic finesse, so that will serve you well here. And don't get discouraged if it doesn't work the first time. Just...picture it like one of your illusions, and then solidify it like you do when creating a regular borg."

I nod slowly, turning this over in my head. There are numerous commands that go into shaping magic, but I rarely pay attention to them like that. For me, they're more like...steps in a recipe. When making a borg, I focus on the light. Then I shape it into a bubble around me. Then I solidify it in a way that light normally isn't. That's the hardest part. With my illusions, there's no form...but there could be. Adar had talked about illusions that, though still weak, have some solidity to them. This...could work.

I grip the Staff, nodding again, surer this time.

"Alright. Let's do it."

Ugo grins, jogging to stand a short distance from me. Then, he turns to face me and extends his arms.

"Okay! I want you to focus on shielding me. It might be easier if you have someone to practice on."

He's right. It feels easier to focus when I'm acting like someone's attacking Ugo. Logically, I know he's more than capable of handling himself. He might be sweetly awkward and given to long periods of intellectual tangent, but he's still my Ugo. If he ever got hurt…

I take a deep breath and motion the Staff toward him. I focus on the light around him, like I would when making an illusion. No...that's not right. I need to do it like when I make a borg. Just, over there. I feel my eyebrows furrow deeply, concentrating to the point that Salos sends a questioning ping through our bond. I'm so used to it that I simply allow him into my mind, not faltering. Sensing what I'm doing, he lends his strength to mine. Zara's mental brush is more latent, a passing inquiry as to whether or not we need help. Upon sensing our safety, she drifts back into being a warm observing presence at the back of our bond, there but at the same time not.

A thin, flickering aura springs up around Ugo, not solid enough to be a borg, but of the right shape. He gasps excitedly at having his theory proven. Salos helps me focus my efforts toward solidifying the light. It wavers. Then it becomes whole. Ugo gives a delighted laugh.

The effect lasts only for a moment before I lose focus and it shatters. Disappointment swells within me and is quickly soothed by both Salos and Zara. They assure me that I've done well, especially for a first try.

Ugo grins at me euphorically.

"Amazing! You made one!"

I nod, sighing.

"Yes. But it wasn't easy. It took all of my concentration to shape it and solidify it…."

The magician hums thoughtfully, smile slipping slightly as he focuses his impressive amount of brain power on this.

"Maybe," he says after a brief pause, "Don't make a full one. At least for now. Focus on something like...a shield."

He demonstrates with enviable ease, creating a compact thing in front of himself. It's similar to what I've seen magicians running low on energy do during particularly desperate combat situations. It makes sense, though. Instead of trying to do a full borg, just do a piece. I nod in understanding.

"So...like this."

It's much easier to form a small circle, barely two feet in diameter, on Ugo's left. He nods, pleased. It still requires a lot of concentration, but it isn't nearly the colossal effort of the previous attempt.

"Exactly! See? I told you that you were plenty smart. Keep practicing this and you'll have it in no time!"

I smile, basking in his encouragement. Ugo can do anything and, if he tells me I can do it, then I know I can.

Mass sealing or not, you could have at least allowed me my memories of my advanced spellwork. I had to jump off a table and shoot a large man with a low-level beam of light to escape an inn full of humans. I could have been doing so much more, so much less violently with my high-level spells. I could have done so much more against Al Tharmen.

Mina, I'm sorry. I was afraid. You know my soul, why I did it...

I do, but we were in danger.

We pulled through.

I can feel Salos through our bond, his annoyance at my absence a distant buzz in the back of my mind. Zara's is present as well. They're likely fighting again, without me there to regulate them. I couldn't help that I'd been mandated a certain amount of rest. Our last mission had resulted in me taking an injury to my leg, which had resulted in emergency healing and a number of days of being confined to base. Now, at Solomon's order, Zara and Salos are out scouting without me. I'm left to wander the halls of the base, the Staff tapping rhythmically in time with my steps. There are people to visit, I know, but I'm putting that off until after grandfather arrives. After all, Zara told me that there was a Zalaam boy, Aswad, who I need to find.

I'm on my way back to mine and Salos's quarters when I finally find him, the dark haired figure who has been so near to Zara as of late. We've never been introduced, even though Zara has been the one caring for him. I heard that he was dreadfully injured and collapsed just outside the base. He seems to be recovering well…

I pause, watching as he pauses between two halls, frowning. He looks one way and then another, his frown deepening. Oh. Is he lost? He is still fairly new, and these halls can be monstrous if you don't know your way. Salos and I have had years of practice in wandering them. This one likely usually has Zara with him.

I put on my nicest smile and step forward, approaching him at an unhurried pace. He hears me long before I get the chance to call out to him and turns to look at me.

My eyes widen just slightly and I have to focus to keep my smile from faltering. Oh, wow. He is really handsome.

He's taller than me, though that isn't saying much. I can tell that he has one of those lithe, powerful frames that hides just how much physical power an individual possesses, though right now he's still suffering from malnutrition. He carries himself proudly, dark eyes surveying me with open interest and curiosity. His olive skin is covered by darker scales on his cheeks, lining the area under his eyes and drifting downward. His long hair, a lovely midnight black, hangs loosely around his face and shoulders. Behind him, a reptilian tail flexes. He's beautiful, and immediately, my face flushes.

He smiles softly when I near and I finally find my voice.

"Hello. Are you lost?"

I'm proud to say that I manage to speak without shaking. He nods once.

"A little...I've never been this way on my own."

Even his voice is lovely, something deep and rich that promises to become even more so with age. I feel a bit breathless.

Never before has a male so affected me. I've been of mating age for a handful of years now, and I've been looking at those around me. I briefly allowed Astaroth to court me, but it was a short-lasting thing. Only a few weeks passed and we realized that, while we both respect each other and appreciate what the other has to give to our shared cause, we are at different seasons in life. I am barely breaching adulthood while he is a mature male of his species. We parted ways as friends. Zagan demonstrated what might have been courting behaviour as well during our training, but we're too good of friends for that to be so. He's always given me the prettiest flowers, though. Only Salos's are better.

I've been flirted with, yes, and the advances have increased since my position among the Niran solidified. They've given me the title of princess, which I suppose is attractive to some? Some of the young Niran have presented themselves as potential mates, but none of them...felt right. And, besides, none of them would have been able to best Salos in combat. The few older ones, those well into their young adulthood, who had come forth had balked when they realized it wasn't Salos they would deal with, but Zara. And that was the end of that.

Aswad is different. While those other males never stirred anything other than a faint attraction, he is utterly appealing. I feel like I could just look at him all day and be happy. That and his scent is dizzying- like sharp spice mixed with a musk I've come to associate with woods after rain. The effect is so potent that it's a wonder that Zara and Salos don't start wondering. It must be the distance between us.

"Where are you headed?" I manage to ask.

His smile widens a bit. Oh, good gods, I've never found sharp canines so attractive.

"Well, I was going to look for Zara and ask if she would like to walk with me...but I take it that she's out if you're here alone."

I cock my head slightly. So he recognizes me? That girlishly enthralled part of me is giddy with this realization.

"Yes. She and my brother are out scouting."

He nods in understanding, his dark eyes lingering on mine. Am I imagining the appreciation there?

"I see. In that case...would you like to come with me?" he pauses then, catching himself, "I'm sorry. I don't think we've been introduced. My name is Aswad."

He extends a hand and after the briefest hesitation, I put my own in it. His taloned fingers wrap around mine snuggly. I want to tell him that I know who he is, that Zara told me, but my mouth forms different words.

"Thamina. Though, most people just call me Mina."

My heart almost stops as he brings my hand up and presses a quick kiss to my knuckles. His lips are soft and dry and I can't help the little gasp that escapes me.

"It's very nice to meet you, Mina."

My cheeks warm and I know that I'm blushing as I give him what is no doubt a silly smile.

"You too, Aswad," I clear my throat and pull my hand away before I can embarrass myself any more, "Zara asked me to find you, actually. She said...you might need a friend."

Aswad's dark eyes spark with something like excitement at that. I get the sense that he's nearly as fond of Zara as I am, and hearing that she sent me to find him seems to put him at ease.

"That's very kind of her. I've been wanting to meet you for a while now."

I'm not sure what to say to that, so I just nod and keep smiling,

"I've wanted to meet you, too," I pause, my hand flexing on the Staff as I try to ground myself, "So, should we walk and get to know each other a bit? Now that we've met?"

That was a stupid thing to say. I want to kick myself in the head for it. Fortunately, he just nods in agreement.

"That sounds nice. If we're going to be friends, we should definitely get acquainted. Here," he offers me his arm and I look at him in surprise, "I heard that you'd injured your leg."

Oh. He's really sweet, too.

Blushing again, I take his arm and the pair of us set off. For the first time since Zara and Salos left, I'm actually hoping they don't rush back. I really don't want my time with Aswad to be cut short.

Aswad again. Do you hate him because I loved him?

Of course not, Mina. I might not like sharing you, but I would never actually deny you a mate... that would be hypocritical of me.

Why- ah, yes. Amara. You even took her memory from me.

Please don't say it that way...

I'm utterly in awe of the blade I'm being presented with. I don't move to take it at first just because it's so beautiful. It isn't like the Niran daggers or scimitars. This is a different make, a Dioscuri make. Something I haven't seen since the genocide of my species.

Eyes pricking with tears, I finally reach out to take it. Amara smiles kindly as it leaves her hands, her twin tails waving gently behind her. Adar beams proudly from off to the side. The three of us stand alone in the practice fields of the Niran camp, having met for training just like always. Oftentimes, we were forced to secure an empty room at the base simply because of circumstance. It's far more comforting to be among the tents of the tribe.

Amara is the best swordswoman the Niran have to offer, her skills in physical combat even rivaling Zara, who was trained by Arba. More than once, I've seen her tear through a battlefield with blade and claw alike. She's a ghost in the wind when she fights, nimbler than I can ever hope to be. She's taught me everything she can, even taking into account our differences in style. She really is amazing, but to give a gift like this...

"Amara….how…?"

She chuckles, bearing her fox-like fangs.

"Your people might be gone, lovely, but their spirit remains. My father found the design in the archives when we joined in stopping the raid, all those years ago. I thought I'd be giving one to Salos, but he favors a bigger blade to match his strength. This one should be perfect for you," she taps the scabbard, "It's thin and quick enough that you'll have no trouble adapting the strikes I taught you. Single-edged, just like a scimitar. And, look," she pulls the blade out just enough for the tempered steel to shine, "It's folded steel- crafted for durability to match your strength," she winks, "Trust me when I say no humans could make a blade like this. It's a Niran crafted Dioscuri design."

The tears finally spill over. I can feel Salos's approval and echoing emotions. He's on his way, coming from a sparring match with Vanir. Zara sends us a fond wave of comfort through the link made by the ceremony. Ah, she knew about this. I can feel that she's pleased by my response to the gift.

"This is...too much," I manage, wiping at my eyes.

Amara reaches out and catches my hand when I've finished, crooning in that odd purring way that only Niran can.

"No, Mina. Only two people in this world have the right to wield a blade like this. You and your brother are the last of the Dioscuri, but you are also Niran. Zara made it so. With this," she touches the sword again, "Both of your families can help protect you on the battlefield. Use it to remember what you fight for, where you come from, and what you are protecting."

I nod, sniffling.

Adar approaches then. He and Amara have been responsible for my training since I returned from Amon's city. Amara has taught me how to move my body in combat and use weaponry while Adar has helped focus my magic. Because of them, I've been able to keep up with Salos and Zara on the battlefield. So far, though, I've been borrowing a blade from Amara. With this...I have a sword of my own.

"My little star, don't ever believe yourself unworthy of this gift," Adar murmurs, smoothing his hands over my shoulders comfortingly, "You are a warrior, just as much as your siblings. I cannot tell you how proud I am of you. You may not be born of my line, but don't ever forget that you are one of us. You are a Niran, just as much as Zahir or Amara or any other."

I nod again. He's right. It's been a number of years since then. It seems both an eternity and a short while all at once. I lean back into him, accepting his hug. Amara joins us, and I wrap an arm around her. Squished between them, I am surrounded by fluffy warmth and that odd purring sound. I sense Salos's nearness just before another body crashes into our group. Adar laughs as my brother throws his arms around all of us. A whoop precedes Zara's addition as well, sending us all into bouts of mirth.

The embrace lasts until Amara complains about Salos's smell, to which he responds with something about how females are supposed to be attracted to masculine musk.

"That's not musk, Salos, that's stench," Zara quips.

He grabs for her and she dances away, cackling. They're not in a true mood for fighting, just playfulness. Amara watches them fondly, her eyes lingering on my brother.

I know that she cares for him, and he for her. They've been spending a lot of time together recently, and, honestly, I don't mind. Amara is Mina, Zara, and Adar -approved, and that's saying something. Plus, she's one of the few people who can actually handle my brother in all of his...him-ness.

I give her a Zara-esque smile and nudge her.

"So, when are you going to ask Salos if he wants to be your mate?"

She cocks a brow at me, something that I've never been able to do.

"Probably whenever you get around to asking Aswad."

I immediately turn crimson and she sighs, shaking her head.

"Don't give what you can't take, lovely," she gives that mischievous Niran grin, "Though, it was a good try."

You loved her, Salos. How could you just…

Mina, I can't be with Amara. Not now. Not as a Djinn. We talked about that, while you were...resting. We lost that.

So she's another thing Al Tharmen took.

No, not her as a person. Just my chance to be with her….I didn't want to make you forget her, but…

I know, you've said…..they took both of our chances at finding mates...at rebuilding…

The night sky is clear, the stars spreading out across the inky expanse like a smattering of discarded diamonds. Even with the jewelry that so many of us wear winking expensively in every corner, none of our decorations can compare with such natural beauty. I lay beside Aswad, my fingers laced with his, our heads touching as we look up at them together and discuss the past, present and future. I am utterly at ease. No battles rage, no scouting reports need an immediate review, and no great meetings of war need attending. Just the two of us alone for a brief, precious time.

I can feel that my brother is off with 'the boys', meaning that he, Barbatos, and Valefore are off causing trouble. Last time they got together, they started an arm wrestling competition in which anyone who could beat Barbatos won money and charged an entrance fee of five coins. Valefore cajoled people into competing while Salos handled the money. The thing went on for hours before Baal got wind of it and shut it down.

Zara is being quiet, which is fine with me for the moment. I'm perfectly content.

Aswad absently strokes the back of my hand with his thumb, his deep voice a pleasant verberation in my bones. I close my eyes and listen to him talk about his childhood, before the Zalaam were a nearly extinct species. He reaches the end of one of his stories and pauses unexpectedly.

I wait for a moment before speaking quietly.

"What is it?"

He hums, letting me know he's gathering his thoughts. I allow him to do so, waiting patiently for him to talk again.

"Mina, we could rebuild together, you know," he finally says quietly, "We could, after this war is over, have a family of our own...a home…"

I open my eyes, feeling a little short on breath.

I've thought about this before, but we've never discussed it. Not beyond a passing mention. I look at him to find him watching me carefully. Still breathless, I smile, squeezing his hand.

"What's that look for? I love you. There's no one in this world I would rather raise a family with."

His answering smile is beautiful. He rolls onto his side, far enough to press his lips to mine in a grateful kiss. I hum in response, leaning into him. It's not like the shy kisses we exchanged when we were first exploring romance, nor is it like the hungry kisses we've shared in bouts of intimacy. It's a familiar, happy kiss. A simple expression of our feelings.

"I love you," he breathes as he pulls away to look at me, "I promise you, as soon as everything has settled, I'll take you as my mate and we'll get started on that family," he smiles then, an expression touched with mischief, "I would suggest we get started now, but pregnancy might limit your battlefield capability…"

I give a mock outraged sound and smack his arm as he laughs.

"You're as bad as the Niran!" I say, rolling away from him.

He laughs louder, going with me so that we tumble in the grass like playful children until we come to a stop with his arms around me. He pulls me close to his chest, pressing a kiss to my head.

"Only with you, love. Always," he peers down at me, black eyes glittering happily, "Marry me, Mina?"

I smile so widely that it's almost painful, a joy like I've never felt dancing in my chest. I always knew that this was the man I wanted to spend my life with. His proposal makes it feel so much more real, and serves as a reassurance that he wants this as much as I do.

"Of course, Aswad. Only you. Always."

With a happy yell, my new fiance jumps up, pulling me with him. Then I'm back in his embrace as he spins us around in a happy circle, the both of us laughing.

In that moment, the world is perfect. David can't touch us. The war is a distant dream. All that exists is this love and the surety that it will last forever.

Salos…

I know, Mina. I felt what you two had.

What happened?

...Are you sure you want to follow that path? It will hurt you. That's why I kept him from you. I don't want you to feel that again.

I have to know.

I draw back from him, diving into my memories, seeking the face of my love. I see him, over and over, emotions flooding through me with each instance. I watch as he laughs, weeps, rages, plots, fights, plays, follows, leads, and loves. Loves with such passion that I can hardly believe I was ever its recipient. We love in small touches, in glances across rooms, in quiet words, in thoughtful gifts, and in lovemaking that would have made me blush at the mere thought of it. I see him, just as he sees me, at his strongest and his weakest. Only Salos and Zara were possibly closer. So, why…?

I follow one memory in particular- this one bathed in fire, pain and chaos. Despair and desperation fills my soul as I relive a single moment

Tears, hot like blood, run down my temples and into my splayed hair. I stare up, finding Aswad above me. He looks down at me, face twisted in regret, his reptilian tail still raised, blood dripping from the scales and spikes.

Salos's regret, rage, and grief fills me and now I know. I understand his drive for revenge and why he would try so desperately to keep this from me.

Aswad loved me.

And then he killed me.

*emerges from cave*

Well, it's been a while.

This one was hard to write because of the sudden intro of events and characters, so I kept postponing mentally, trying to figure out what to do with it until finally I made myself sit down and just bust it out. I wanted so badly to build up Amara's intro, for instance, but Mina literally didn't remember her and this is a first person pov...asfghjkl. And as much as we all love Salos, he was being super creepy and controlling and this whole debacle is his fault.

Please keep in mind that while I will be writing flashbacks of Mina's memory, her full history will not be completely written out in this story. Her past is talked about in Melissiaew's prequel Golden Love, and I don't see the sense in rewriting what's already written. Please do swing that way and check it out :)

This chapter marks the point where this story is going to start to move. Things have been fairly slow until this point, but with Mina recalling who she is, she's about to get a lot more proactive. It also marks the point where serious canon divergence is about to take place. While the timeline will remain pretty much the same, the events will certainly be different than what we know because, if you've read this far, you know that Mina (and Zara) tend to make splashes wherever they go.

Since it's summer and I now have a legitimate computer instead of a dinky tablet, I'm hoping to push a number of chapters out fairly soon, which means there shouldn't be another six month wait in the near future.

On to reviews!

Crosswald: I can definitely understand where these last few chapters have been a little difficult to follow without full context. I hope you'll keep reading as the story continues :)

xliliths: Your continued support and reviews always brightens my day! Thank you so much for that review. Feedback and encouragement like that is exactly what I think every fanfic author hopes for.

Mccrystal: Thank you for the kind words! They mean so much. I've gotten through some tough times myself with the help of the works of the writers here and I'm honored to hear that mine have helped you. I hope you enjoy where this story goes!

mute-by-choice: I'm not going to judge at all. It's been like six months since I updated, so I don't feel like I have room to talk XD. I hope everything turned out okay where you are! I was super relieved myself to bring in other characters, too. I'm glad that Salos's...not-okay-control-freak-ness came through like it was supposed to. Not to fear, though, even though Mina's forgiven him, she's not about to let him off easy. And she certainly won't be allowing him that level of control again :). Thanks for the review.

Guest: Here's more! With another chapter to follow soon!

Candy284: Thank you so much for your review! I hope that you continue to enjoy the story!

Please let me know what you thought of this most recent chapter and, don't worry, the next one is well on its way!