So I just now noticed that this site wasn't accepting my use of italics? And I use italics in, like, every chapter? I'll be going back and editing that, and I'm sorry about the disjointedness of it. I hope the rest of the story will flow more smoothly now. And for those of you finding and reading this later, be glad you didn't have to see that.

Trigger warnings: bruises, panic attack, possession

Hector leaped from his perch to one of the trees on the platform below, Kiki and Ruddiger right behind him. As they dropped mostly noiselessly to the ground, the warrior intentionally slid his foot a bit to catch Varian's attention. Fortunately, Adira didn't notice, but his nephew turned to look. His eyes widened in surprise, but he wisely kept his head low so the others didn't notice. That's my boy. Hector motioned for him to drop back about three steps.

Varian lagged behind the others, dragging his feet as if reluctant to go with them. No surprise there. Adira and the man turned to look at him.

Then Hector threw his distraction. The small bag landed in the dirt just in front of Adira. Her head whipped around to see what it was.

And Hector made his move.

Leaping from his hiding place, he unsheathed his sword. He crossed behind Adira, slicing the lead rope and scooping up Varian in a single movement. His sister's blade swung around, slicing off the end of one of his braids and whistling dangerously close to the side of his face. Still carried by his forward momentum, he ducked the sword and rolled, letting his body take the brunt of the impact as he sheltered Varian. He flipped up and slid to a stop a few feet away from them, his nephew safely in his hold. Without hesitating, he set Varian on his feet and spun him behind him, placing himself in between the boy and his captors, sword at the ready.

His leg screamed in pain at the exertion. His head ached like it had been stepped on by Kubwa. The dust that had been flung in the air infiltrated his lungs. Setting his jaw, he opted to ignore his discomfort. It was worth it. Every ache and pain was worth it now that he could feel the shaking child huddled close behind him, hiding halfway under his cloak and clinging to him. Varian was scared but alive. His ragged breathing was music to Hector's ears.

The reaction from the others was immediate and explosive. Someone screamed. It might have been the princess or the old man. It was hard to tell. As one, they turned to see what had happened, drawing their weapons. The princess herself was armed with a frying pan and looked ready to use it, so she was more than likely not the screamer.

"Varian!" she cried in shock.

Adira leveled her blade at her brother's chest, though she was wise enough not to attempt to strike. "Let him go, Hector!" she snarled.

He couldn't help his eye roll. "Hey, sis? He's holding me." He could see her analyzing the situation, attempting to find a way to free Varian, and he could see the exact moment his words hit home.

The princess either didn't get it or didn't care. "Varian, get away from him! He's dangerous!"

Kiki had circled the group and come up behind Hector, ready to fight by his humans. Ruddiger, who had been sitting on his back, darted over and slipped up onto Varian's shoulders as the boy twisted his wrists out of the binding. "You're bleeding!" he exclaimed, looking slightly woozy.

Hector put a hand to his head, where the blood had dried and knotted his hair. He'd forgotten. "I'm fine. It's nothing."

The bald man's mouth dropped open as he started putting the pieces together. "Wait a minute! Do you two know each other?"

"Wow. Figure that out all by yourself, didja?" He glanced back at his nephew and hissed as he saw the dark mark that had started to form on one side of his face. He recognized it.

A handprint.

"Who hit you?" he growled, low and deadly.

"'M fine," Varian dodged the question.

"Varian. Who. Hit. You."

The boy shuddered and pressed his face against Hector's side. "Cassandra."

Hector's cold glare fell on the handmaid. He motioned for Varian to head for the stairs. "Get out of here. I'll take care of her."

"You broke Varian out of prison, didn't you?" Adira asked.

"Well, one of us had to, and it clearly wasn't going to be you."

She picked up the bag Hector threw at her and smirked as she saw the contents: twenty gold coins. "So you finally admit it, brother."

He glared back at her. "Doesn't matter. I told you. Sundrop or no, I'd end you."

"Hector, if you'd just listen—"

"No. How dare you side with them! After what they did to our nephew! After what they did to our brother!" He put a reign on his temper. Losing control would only serve to lose him everything else.

"Where is Quirin? Varian wouldn't tell me."

Then they hadn't explained? His lips tightened in a thin line. "Quirin is dead, sister" he answered slowly, trying to keep his voice steady. Her gasp of horror stabbed him through the heart and nearly made him break his resolve right there. "I read the final rites of the Brotherhood for him."

She shook her head in shock. "How?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "What happened?"

"It was an accident," Varian answered, stepping out from behind Hector slightly. The warrior put a hand out to keep him back. Why had he not left as ordered? "He saved me. I made a mistake, and he saved my life. I—I tried to help—I wanted to save him—" His voice broke. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean—" He leaned into Hector's side.

"Your perfect little Sundrop abandoned him and Varian," Hector hissed. "She left Quirin to die and Varian to suffer unjustly. And she'll die for that. Varian, go. I'll deal with this."

Varian grabbed Hector's arm. "Wait! You're not going to kill them, are you?"

Hector blinked. "That's kinda the plan, yeah." Between him, Artemis, and Kiki, they could take down at least the Sundrop, the handmaid, and the owl. They'd probably die by Adira's hand, but Kubwa could get Varian to safety.

"No!" His nephew's eyes widened. "P-please don't!"

"Why do you care? After everything they put you through?" Sometimes he really didn't understand this kid.

Varian shook his head. "J-just ple-please don't kill them!"

Hector shook his head and sighed, turning back to their opponents. "One last chance. For Varian's sake, I won't kill you if you leave now and never return."

"We can't do that, Hector," Adira answered. "The Sundrop and Moonstone must be reunited."

In years past, when he had thought of Adira, there had always been a bitterness at her betrayal that allowed him to consider killing her. Now that she was here, now that she had found her Sundrop and was prepared to finish her treasonous task, his hand hesitated. Why? Because it was different now that she was looking him in the eye? Because this was the moment of truth, when he would raise his sword, no holds barred, and either kill her or die by her hand?

Because family seemed to be worth more in the last six months?

His voice shook slightly as he responded, "Then I'm sorry it had to come to this."

He lifted his sword and attacked.

O‴O‴O‴

Time seemed to slow for Hector whenever he fought. That was part of why he was the fastest of his siblings. He could see every movement, strategize every strike while his opponent was still reeling from his last blow. His natural speed combined with his rapid thoughts to make him little more than a blur in their eyes. It was what allowed him to see the princess's boyfriend rushing to protect her, Kiki charging in from his right side, Artemis swooping low to tackle the owl midair.

Out of all of his enemies in the past, however, Adira was one of the few who could actually stand up to his barrage. She didn't match him in speed, but she equaled him in skill. And she knew how he fought.

Hector's first strike went straight for the princess. Take out the Sundrop, half the battle was over. He jumped up and brought his sword in an arc toward her. Fear danced in her green eyes as he saw his own reflection bearing down to end her. But his reflection was transferred from her eyes to Adira's black blade as she threw herself in between them. Hector used the force of their blades colliding to flip over her and land behind the princess, his leg giving a twinge of pain that he ignored. His sword swung around—backstabbing wasn't honorable, but this was war—and clashed against a second blade.

Cassandra.

Fury filled his veins, burning hot at first but cooling to that frigid ice-water that fueled him while still allowing him to retain control. Adira thought of him as sadistic. He would never agree with her—sadism was what led people like the Coronans to burn a child—but he could see how she got that impression. His movements were lightning, sporadic, unpredictable, and he was ruthless when it came to dealing with opponents. His cold veneer mingled with his fierce attacks, leading one to believe he enjoyed the sight and smell of blood on his weapon, of bodies slain by his hand.

He didn't. He enjoyed a fight, yes, but never the act of killing.

But this was Cassandra. This was the woman who left hand-shaped bruises across his nephew's face. This was the woman who hadn't hesitated to try to kick a bound child while he was down and defenseless.

If he took satisfaction in killing her, who could blame him?

He kicked her in the stomach, knocking her back into the princess and sending them both tumbling to the ground. The bearcat leaped at them but was intercepted by Adira. Hector twisted to meet an attack from the brunet—what had Varian called him? Fitzherbert? Knocking him aside like a kitten—not that Hector would ever hurt a kitten—he turned his attention back to the two he had to kill.

The others had started to rally, finally. If Hector had had more backup, they'd've been dead already. The thug with the hook helped Fitzherbert up, while the old man appeared to have fallen asleep. Artemis knocked the owl out and flew at the horses. The bald man rushed forward, and Hector dropped and spun, swiping the man's legs out from under him. Regaining his footing, the warrior rushed the girls.

Cassandra jumped up and charged to meet his attack. Their swords met in a shower of sparks, glimmering brightly against the dark gray of the dimly lit Tree. Hector drove a kick at her knee, forcing her to limp back. The princess jumped aside as they fought, Cassandra being forced further and further back.

He had to give credit where it was due; she wasn't horrible. He paced his blows, holding back to give her time to adjust, knowing he could end her with one strike should he choose. He held back, waiting, waiting… there!

The princess had come up behind him. He saw from the corner of his eye the way she held her hair, preparing to use it as a whip. A single well-placed strike could end the handmaid. Then a spin back against the princess could put her out of his way for good.

He planned the exact motion. Both of the women telegraphed their moves too obviously, and it would be a simple matter of executing his plan once he knew exactly what they would try.

His plan changed when he sensed Adira's sword aimed at his back. He twisted around to meet her attack when a small blur crossed his vision.

"NOOOO!"

The scream was familiar, heartbreakingly so. Varian had thrown himself between Hector and Adira, holding out a hand to stop her attack. The lady warrior's expression was a cross of horror and fear as her blade arced toward the boy

Hector moved on instinct, sheathing his sword as he spun and allowing his momentum to carry him into Varian. He bodyslammed him, knocking him roughly to the side. Adira's weapon raked across the side of Hector's arm, sending pain like fire into it. The child and the knight hit the ground and rolled, Hector flipping to land in a crouch above his nephew.

Of all the reactions he expected, the worst one was the unfortunate reality. Varian shrank into a ball, wrapping his arms around his head and gasping for breath. Hector hissed and put a hand on his arm. "Varian? You okay?"

Varian screamed and curled up further. "NO DON'T TOUCH ME!"

Adira thankfully motioned for the others to stay back. Cassandra still looked ready to attack, but she obeyed. They all froze, staring at the boy in shock. Kiki and Artemis gathered by their humans. Hector hovered over his nephew anxiously. "Varian, hey, talk to me. You okay?"

Tears streamed down his nephew's dirt-streaked face. "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry please don't hurt me!"

Hector's heart shattered. "I'm not going to hurt you." Not again. He had done what he did to protect him, but Varian didn't see that. "It's okay, kiddo, I'm here. You're gonna be fine, 'kay?"

Varian's broken sobs slowed, but his body shook like a leaf. The princess started forward, her chameleon on her shoulder. "Is he okay?"

"Get back!" Hector snarled. These people had no business getting anywhere near his nephew. "Stay away from him!"

Ruddiger scampered over to his boy and placed a paw on his face. Varian gasped and drew back. Hector shook his head to warn him off.

"Hector," Adira spoke softly. "Is he going to be okay?"

He checked over Varian's slim frame. He appeared uninjured, and his glazed eyes blinked rapidly as he tried to force himself to come to his bearings.

Why had Varian not done what Hector asked? Why had he stayed? Was he okay?

Varian had been making progress with his recovery. He still regressed every once in a while, but touch very seldom affected him the way it had for the first several months. This attack was more extreme than he had expected. Why? What had happened?

The handprint on Varian's face stood out in his vision. Of course. Cassandra.

She had hurt Varian. She had caused him to panic. She had reminded him of his fear, his pain, his dark months of being unable to be touched and held and comforted.

And she would pay for it.

"Varian," he whispered. "If you can hear me, I need you to nod." He sighed with relief as his kid responded affirmatively. He wasn't too far gone in his attack, then. "Good. I need you to go with Kiki. Find Riki and Kubwa and get out of here. They'll protect you." Varian nodded again, his tears starting to slow.

Hector flicked his wrist and summoned his blade. He nodded to Artemis, who dived at Adira. As the warrior was distracted, Hector leaped over Varian's prone form and charged Cassandra.

The princess ran forward, but Hector was quicker. Cassandra threw her sword up in time to block his, but the force of the blow sent her stumbling and tripping over her feet. He didn't slow, sending strike after strike at her before she could recover or the others could come to her defense.

She shrieked in pain as he bore down on her arm with the flat of his blade. The bone snapped with a sickening crack. Unyielding, Hector spun and kicked her in the side, causing her to fall. She clutched at her arm and attempted to scramble to her feet, her sword laying uselessly beside her.

Hector prepared to attack again but found his wrist locked in place with a golden rope. He glanced back briefly to see the princess glaring at him as she restricted his movements with her hair. The men had rushed forward as well. He smirked and yanked his wrist forward, causing her to lose her balance and fall into the others, knocking them all to the ground. Then he kicked Cassandra in the stomach.

She flew backward, skidding across the ground until she came to the edge of the platform. Her strangled scream was lost to the abyss below as she fell off the edge.

"Cassandra!" The princess rushed forward as Hector dodged to the side. Varian had climbed up on Kiki's back, but upon seeing Cassandra fall, he slipped off and darted forward. Hector blocked his path, careful not to touch him.

"What are you doing? We have to go!"

"B-but she-she'll die!" he exclaimed. He looked over to the princess who had thrown her hair down to try to catch her friend. From the look on her face, she had failed.

Hector didn't care.

Adira swiped at Artemis, knocking the bird out of the air. The hawk tumbled to the ground at Hector's feet, dazed but unwounded. He scooped her up and motioned for Varian to get on Kiki's back for the umpteenth time. As his sister charged at him with a roar of rage, he dove to the side and leaped up, kicking her in the back with his good leg. She kept her footing and spun to face him again. Considering that she was actually using her sword instead of keeping her hands behind her back and waiting for him to make the first move, he must have ticked her off. Two of the men ran forward, Fitzherbert staying behind to comfort his girlfriend.

Before Hector could meet the attack, the ground started shaking. They braked to a stop and looked around questioningly. The rumbling grew until it resembled a low thunder. The tremors rattled Hector's bones. He looked back to Varian, who sat on Kiki's back. The boy, raccoon, and bearcat stared back, uncertain.

Oh.

You've got to be kidding.

Hector groaned. There was no way the handmaid should have survived that fall! But if she had…

A green glow spread up the walls, creeping closer and closer. Before the stunned group could react, a tangled mass of living vines climbed its way to the top of the Tree, stopping across from them. In the harsh light emanating from the plants, Hector could see a pale, raven-haired girl suspended from the vines, a blue spear clenched in her hand.

Crap.

O‴O‴O‴

A vine slammed into the floor, blocking Varian and Kiki from the exit. They spun back around to face the horror that had emerged from the depths, wrapped in glowing vines.

Crap crap crap crap crap.

Cassandra's eyes shot open, glowing a ghastly white-green. Was she possessed? "You'll pay for your insolence!" she screeched, pointing to Hector with the spear. "You'll die, and the little brat will get thrown back in a cell where he belongs! None can defy the power of Zhan Tiri!"

"Cassandra?" the princess gasped. "Cass, I'm so glad you're okay!"

Cassandra turned her gaze on her friend. "You did this! I warned you, your highness, but you never listen! You'll pay as well!" The vines shot around the room, stabbing at enemies and friends alike. The princess tried to use her hair to block the vines but was knocked off her feet.

Hector snarled and charged her, leaping from vine to vine, never standing still long enough for her to hit him. He dodged and twisted in a mesmerizing display, slicing at anything that came close, a blur of black and gray against the poison green. Green, like chemicals, like acid—

No! Get it together! Varian closed his eyes and clung to Kiki, who darted around to avoid being hit. Ruddiger squeaked and clung to Varian's chest. He tried not to flinch at the contact. He'd already panicked when Hector had barreled into him; he didn't need to freak out over his best friend, too.

It pained him to think of that moment. He had been doing so well, he had been truly proud of himself for once, but one meeting with Cassandra left him shaking and crying like a child—like a victim—at a touch from someone he trusted and loved. He'd fought to gain a victory over his conditioning, but he was reduced to his old self in one day. And he hated that. Hated his weakness. Hated his inability to hold on to the progress he had made. Hated that his recovery was taking SO! BLASTED! LONG!

Recovery wasn't an easy road, Hector reminded him all the time. It was okay if he slipped and fell, as long as he kept getting back up. And he'd tried. Oh, how he'd tried! There were still so many days he couldn't fight back a cry of fear when Hector surprised him with a hand on his arm, when he was reduced to a sobbing mess in a corner over a panic attack for no good reason, when he ran in fear away from the safety of the walls he knew because he felt closed in. And Hector had been patient every step of the way. Never perfect, but always patient. He stepped back when Varian was afraid, he sat and talked to him during his attacks, he followed him when he ran to make sure he was safe. And always, always, always, Varian ended up in the safety of his uncle's arms, often seeking him out just to have him put an arm around him, sometimes crying against his leather armor, never feeling trapped or constricted.

But this? Hector had been protecting him. Varian hadn't been thinking; he'd seen Adira coming at Hector from behind and jumped in the way, terrified she might actually hurt him. And Hector had put himself at risk, knocking Varian away from the blade. He had been safe, protected, and yet he had screamed in fright when he felt his uncle's gentle hand on his arm. He'd pleaded with the man not to hurt him, despite knowing it was Hector, that he would never do anything to harm him. His attack hadn't lasted as long as normal, as he recognized Hector's rough voice and used it as a grounding point, but his mind was still clouded and his nerves were still on end as he obeyed the order to get on the bearcat and leave.

But when Hector attacked Cassandra, he hesitated. He ran back, unsure why. He hated her! Why did he turn back? Why did he ask Hector to spare her and the others?

He was paying for it now. Their exit was blocked, Cassandra had awakened the Heart, and he was weaponless and powerless.

A vine shot towards them. Kiki jumped over it, nearly throwing the boy from his back. Varian clung tighter and tried to control his shaking form. Hector always told him it was okay to ride out an attack until it was over and not try to force himself to deal with it or the fallout too quickly, but he didn't have that luxury here. Not when he was inches away from death.

Kiki ran for the edge of the platform away from Cassandra, where Kubwa waited anxiously on a higher ledge. They were going to jump. The bearcat charged toward a tree to climb to safety, but another vine cut them off and swept Kiki off his feet. They hit the ground and rolled, Varian instinctively curling up as he fell and wrapping his arms around himself protectively. He scrambled back against a rock and looked around frantically.

Everyone was screaming; green lit up the dark room and left streaks across his vision; someone was flung through the air and snatched up again before hitting the ground. Varian pressed his hands to his ears and tried to block out the noise, there was too much noise, it hurt so bad, why were they yelling it was all TOO MUCH—

A howl of pain broke through his hazy mind. He whipped his head up to see Hector struggling in the grasp of one of the vines. It curled around him, tightening, crushing his ribs, strangling him.

A metal machine, a clawed hand, crushing, clenching, a heart as impervious to the cries of pain as the machine's shell was to weapons—

Varian pulled himself to his feet, stumbling forward. "No, Uncle Hector! Hang on!" He didn't know what to do, he didn't have the answer, he didn't have black rocks to tear down Cassandra's attack vessel, he had nothing! Not even a knife or sword or—

Spear!

His eyes fell on the blue glow sticking into the ground near Hector. He'd managed to knock it out of Cassandra's hands, apparently. The vine near it was dark and withered.

If he could get to the spear, stab it into the middle of the vines…

He ran forward impulsively, blinking past the tears in his eyes to see where he was going. Behind him, Ruddiger screeched in panic. A vine swooped at him, and he ducked and rolled under it, jumping to his feet and continuing on. He could hear Cassandra yelling at him. Blocking her out and spinning around a vine that stabbed into the ground where he had been standing a split second earlier, he tapped into the training he had done with Hector to keep moving. Watch the vines, watch his step, don't get distracted by the screaming, let his muscles remember what they learned, just like the obstacle courses they worked on, only a thousand times more deadly…

The cold wave slammed into him and drove him to the ground. The air fled from his lungs. A haunting voice filled his head, chanting a verse both beautiful and deadly, like a poison flower, like a dagger, like the soft glow of a burning acid…

…End this destiny…

He gasped for air and shoved himself up to his knees. To his right, the princess stood facing Cassandra, her hair dark and her face streaked with tears.

…The spirit free…

The incantation! What was she thinking? "Princess!" he coughed out. "Princess, stop! Y-you'll ki-kill us all!" She either didn't hear or didn't listen.

He had to get to the spear! No stranger to pain, Varian forced himself to his feet, swaying and nearly falling. He stumbled forward, vision growing dizzy from lack of oxygen, and collapsed against the shaft of the spear. The Tree was shaking, harder now, and rubble started to rain down on them. Dust and dirt at first, then pebbles, until large pieces of wood and stone were falling among them, either ripped from the ceiling by the vines or the force of the incantation.

"Varian!" He glanced to the side to see Adira pushing herself toward the princess. "I'll deal with her. Get ready!"

He nodded, yanking the spear from the ground and using it as a walking stick as he weaved dizzily forward. Almost there, just a few feet closer—

The vine blindsided him, knocking him off his feet and snatching him around the waist before he could recover. It yanked him up into the air, and he nearly dropped the spear in his shock. The mountain of vines was starting to grow dark from the power of the incantation. Beside him, he could see Hector's gray complexion as he fought against his own bindings, pain written across his features. His eyes widened in fear as he saw Varian wrapped up beside him.

The cold atmosphere warmed without warning, leaving the shivering boy gasping by the sudden change. As air filled his lungs—as best it could with the vine still cutting into his waist—he steeled himself and swung the spear. It stabbed through the vine, which writhed and twisted as it died and dropped him.

He fell down towards the mass of vines, readying the spear. Most of the mound was dead, courtesy of the princess's dangerous risk, but many of the larger vines were untouched. His feet hit the mound where it was still green, and he plunged the weapon right into the midst of it, holding tightly to the shaft as Cassandra screamed in rage and the shifting mass shook and swayed and bucked. The force ripped the spear from his grip, and he fell, tumbling down the side of the vine cluster and hitting the ground at the bottom. Hector fell behind him, admittedly landing more gracefully than the inexperienced child.

The vines shriveled and jerked, the ground quaked and split, and Varian desperately tried to regain the breath that had been knocked out of him from the fall. The dirt in the air choked him. He hacked and coughed as he pulled himself away, unable to regain enough strength to climb to his feet and run.

Hector's yellow eyes fixed on Varian, relief obvious in them. He started forward. Then an expression of horror crossed his face. He might have screamed, but it was hard to tell through the noise of the Tree breaking apart. Varian looked back to see what had frightened his uncle.

A vine, just barely clinging to life, slithered towards the boy and latched itself around his ankle. Before he could pull free, it dragged him backward along the ground. He kicked and twisted and clutched at the ground, all to no avail.

Hector lunged forward. Varian stretched out a hand toward him, a choking scream lodged in his throat. The warrior lunged across the distance, his fingers just barely brushing Varian's before the boy was dragged over the edge of the platform, falling with the mass of vines back down towards the pit below.

O‴O‴O‴

Hector screamed. He would have thrown himself off the platform had Adira not grabbed him around the waist and hauled him backward, her arms crushing his aching body a bit too harshly. He fought against her grip, driving his elbow into her ribs to force her to drop him. She recovered quickly and knocked him off his feet. He gasped, his already bruised torso not appreciating the beating.

"Don't be stupid!" she yelled, her eyes wide with a fear he rarely saw in them. "We've got to get out of here! This place is coming down!"

"I can't leave without him!" He rushed forward again only to hit the ground again as she tripped him.

"Hector, you can't save him if you're dead! "

He jumped up, ignoring the pain in his leg—falling from the vines hadn't exactly been a picnic—and got in her face. "No! I promised I wouldn't leave him. I am not leaving this Tree until I have him!"

Her eyes searched him, looking for who-knows-what. Did she really think that little of him, that he'd leave his nephew behind in the shell of a crumbling ruin?

"Okay," she answered. "Princess, you and the others go!" She motioned to the side of the Tree, where the destruction had caused a split in the wall.

"But Cassandra!" the princess argued, tears in her eyes. "She fell!"

Hector looked around. Sure enough, the handmaid was nowhere to be seen.

Which meant she was down there with Varian.

If they were still alive.

"You can't save her. If she's down there, we'll get her."

They would?

"Keep going, princess," Adira ordered. "We'll meet you outside. Just get away from the Tree!"

The thug with the hook grabbed the princess's arm and tugged her away. The bald man had already grabbed the old man and the princess's boyfriend and was carrying them to the exit, where the horses and owl had already run. The ledge above them collapsed forward, sending Kubwa tumbling onto the platform below. Hector motioned for him, Artemis, and Kiki to follow the others, hoping Riki had managed to get out safely. He and Adira turned to look at each other. Both drew their swords.

"We may not survive this," Adira warned.

Hector nodded. "If that's the case… I never hated you, sister. I was hurt. I felt betrayed. But I never hated you."

She nodded. "I didn't hate you either. I left because I wanted to free us. I knew if the Sundrop destroyed the Moonstone, we'd have our lives back. You'd be free to have the life you wouldn't let yourself dream of having. You could have a family aside from us."

He smiled sadly. "I have a family now."

"Then let's get him back."

He put an arm around her and drew her close. She tensed at first but relaxed in his hold, wrapping her left arm around him in return. Then they ran for the edge, jumping off and into the darkness below, brother and sister reunited by a common cause for the first time in twenty-five years as the Great Tree fell to pieces around them.

This was one of the hardest chapters I've written!

As always, constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. Thank you and God bless!