Author's Notes: Yes, yes...I missed my update last time . We got back from Otakon on Thursday, and I really didin't feel like writing Arelle in a hurry when I just got home. But at least I'm back now! Thanks for everyone's patience ^.^

Well, just to give a brief report, we did pretty well with our booth at Otakon! We made enough to pay for the whole trip, which was the goal in the first place. So we accomplished our goal, but we didn't become millionaires ^.^ Ah well. I hope to do it for more anime conventions! Since I'll be going to them anyway, I might as well sell at them, and then they're already paid for! Wee! ^.^

Enjoy the chapter!

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5 years ago, Drahkin and the White Wolfs collided for the first time…

The young boy wiped the blood and sweat from his brow, his eyes glued to the figure before him. The boy held his huge sword to the man's neck, the blade shaking with the boy's tension and rage. Around the boy and the man was wreckage--it looked liked an entire camp had been thrashed. Some of the tents were burning, all was in wreckage, and defeated bandits lay strewn across the camp, all with bloody wounds and blood staining the parched ground. In the middle, fire blazing about, was a boy with a huge sword, who held his blade shakily to a figure's throat.

"You killed her!" the boy, Drahkin, exclaimed. "You dirty filth! Scum of Norrath! You killed her! You killed my sister!" Drahkin exclaimed, tears welling in his eyes, his arm shaking from his rage, shaking his blade dangerously close to the man's throat.

The man looked at the boy. What Drahkin saw reflected back in the man's eyes was not fear, but pity. Pity and regret. "I'm…I'm sorry…" he muttered, looking away from Drahkin.

"Hold your filthy tongue, old man! You're only saying that because I'm about to kill you! You're just trying to get away! You're a filthy bandit!" Drahkin exclaimed, tears beginning to stream down his blood-splattered, muddy cheeks. "You're the leader of the White Wolfs! You gave the order to kill her! You gave the order to kill Linnira! You filthy bandit! Curse you! Curse you and the murdering White Wolfs!"

The man looked at the boy, his sorrow deep. "I'm sorry, boy…This must be about that village…had I known…I mean, I never wanted…I never intended things to be like that…I never…" the man said, a deep sorrow crossing his face, as if hidden sorrow had suddenly been awakened.

"Don't tell me that, you filthy bandit! Curse you! I will kill you! I will kill you and all the White Wolfs! This is for you, sister!" Drahkin cried through a breaking voice as he swung his sword at the man. Suddenly, someone jumped between Drahkin and the man and deflected Drahkin's sword with his own. Drahkin stared at the boy in surprise, but didn't let up the pressure on the sword.

The boy stared into Drahkin's eyes, his brows furrowed in determination, his eyes hard and unyielding. Drahkin jumped back seeing the boy would not give up.

As soon as Drahkin landed, he stared the boy coldly in the eye. "Leave now, boy or I will kill you, too!" Drahkin said harshly.

"Boy? I am hardly younger than yourself! And as for leaving--think again! I won't let you kill Father, you dirty killer! I am Raaj of the White Wolf!" the boy exclaimed.

Drahkin's eyes went wide in shock. Father? Drahkin's eyes rested on the middle-aged man, covered in wounds, clutching at the gaping wound on his side.

"Raaj! Get out of here, now! You can't take him on alone, and he's already defeated the others! Take the rest of the White Wolfs and go! NOW, Raaj! While there's still time!" the man gasped nudging his son to go.

Raaj stood firm, his eyes glued to Drahkin. "NO! I will not leave you here to die, Father! You go--I'll hold him off! Go and escape!" Raaj exclaimed.

"Are you insane? You'd--" the man was cut off.

"Enough already! I don't want to hear this!" Drahkin said, clutching his head in his hands as if his head was in pain. "You make it sound like I'm a demon…like I'm a murderer like you! I'm not like you! Don't put me on your level, filthy bandits!" Drahkin exclaimed desperately.

The man and Raaj looked at Drahkin in surprise.

"The White Wolf aren't murderers! We have rules against--" Raaj began, but Drahkin cut him off.

"Quiet! Don't make up filthy lies and excuses! You killed my sister! You killed Linnira! You're all filthy murderers! All of you!" Drahkin exclaimed.

"But we--" Raaj began.

"Raaj! It was…that time…" the man said. Raaj looked at his father.

"That time…oh…" Raaj said, suddenly gloomier. "I see. That's what this is about. That's why he wants revenge," Raaj said.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here! All I know is you murdered my sister. That's all I need to know! This is what I've trained for. I will kill you two and all the rest of the White Wolf clan!" Drahkin exclaimed, charging Raaj again.

Raaj blocked, and once again their swords met with great force. Drahkin pushed with his sword as hard as he could, but Raaj held him back, his hands trembling with the will to block Drahkin.

"You're quite strong…I'm very impressed. But how long do you think you can hold out against me? Already, you're quivering. You won't last much longer," Drahkin said, hoping his taunts were true.

Raaj glared at him. It was true--he wouldn't be able to block Drahkin for much longer, exerting this much effort. He looked at Drahkin, whose brow was covered with sweat, yet he stood firm like a mountain, bearing down on Raaj. It was no use. He couldn't match this man's stamina.

Raaj jumped back quickly, avoiding Drahkin's sword.

Drahkin smiled inwardly--this is what he had been waiting for. Drahkin, not giving Raaj time to rest, swung his sword at Raaj again. Raaj ducked quickly, avoiding the huge sword, then jumped at Drahkin, slashing at his side.

Drahkin stepped to the side, trying to dodge it, but was too late. Drahkin winced as he felt his side slice open, and his angry eyes fell on Raaj. He was fast! Raaj jumped back after having succeeded in his attack, and to Drahkin's surprise, sheathed his sword.

"Leave now, Warrior! Forget your revenge! I don't want to try to kill you. It's not our way. Go now and never return!" Raaj exclaimed. He glanced back at his father who still lay behind him. He looked like he was losing consciousness.

Drahkin glared at him. "Curse you, filthy bandit! You think I give up that easily? Fool!" Drahkin said, preparing to swing his sword again. "Draw your sword again, unless you will a quick death!" Drahkin said, preparing to strike again.

Raaj, seeing Drahkin wasn't ready to give up the fight, drew his sword again quickly, and just in time to dodge a swing from Drahkin's huge sword. After dodging, he turned to Drahkin, "I told you to forget your re--" Suddenly he saw Drahkin's sword coming at him unexpectedly out of the corner of his eye. Breaking his sentence off, he sidestepped quickly, trying to dodge, but was a bit too late--Drahkin's sword skimmed across his chest, making a deep wound.

"RAAJ!" came a girl's voice from behind them. Drahkin glanced behind him, but saw nothing. He turned back to Raaj just in time to see him fall to the ground, blood pouring from his wound.

Drahkin wiped the sweat from his brow. He had defeated him. Next was--

Suddenly, Drahkin felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. Stumbling to the ground in pain and surprise, he looked down and saw a dagger stuck in his shoulder. Drahkin looked around and saw the man, Raaj's father, sitting there, blood covering him, staring at Drahkin. He had used the last of his strength to throw a dagger at Drahkin. And he had hit.

Drahkin looked down at his wound and closed his eyes. Gathering his strength, he rose to his feet weakly. He walked over to the man, who was bracing himself up weakly.

"I'm taking you to the authorities…where you will be meet a humiliating death in front of hundreds…for all of your murders…that is the fate…I have decided for you….murderer," Drahkin snarled.

With that, Drahkin lifted him and slung him across his shoulder. Blood spurted from his wounds, but he ignored them as he began weakly walking towards the village.

"This is it, White Wolfs! Remember this day as the day the White Wolf clan was defeated by one single man! The White Wolf clan is no more!" Drahkin exclaimed, walking towards the village.

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Back in present time….

Drahkin sat cross-legged, his back against the jail cell. His eyes were downcast, but every once in a while he looked into the jail cell before him. Suddenly he saw a stirring in the cell and peered in.

"You're finally up, eh?" Drahkin said.

Inside the cell, Raaj stood up and peered over at Drahkin, sitting in the hall facing him. "Where am I? Who are you? Wait--you're the one who captured me! I'm in prison!" Raaj exclaimed, realization taking over.

"Wow, you're fast," Drahkin joked, chuckling lightly.

Raaj glared at him. "What are you doing here, anyway? You got your bounty already, why are you here?"

Drahkin fell silent. "Well, while I was turning you in, it finally hit me where I'd seen you before. You weren't just one of the White Wolfs that I defeated. You were him, weren't you? Yes, that's right--Raaj. But back then, it wasn't 'Commander Raaj'. Your father was commander," Drahkin said.

"Yes, he was until you turned him in!" Raaj exclaimed.

Drahkin blinked. "Ah…right. He must have been executed for murder. I see. Well, it's his own fault. I just turned him in for his crimes," Drahkin said.

"Hold your tongue! My father never murdered anyone! He wasn't executed. He was charged with stealing. He was fined, plus four years in prison," Raaj said.

"Oh really? Then where is he now? I thought you took over for him after his death, but apparently not. Then, you took the position from him by force? What'd you do, kill him?" Drahkin asked.

"What IS it with you?! What makes you think we're SUCH bad people? I would never harm my own father! He left the White Wolf and gave power to his second-in-command. After his second-in-command proved to be a dirty liar with no morals, he was overthrown by the clan, and I was elected as commander in his place," Raaj said.

"Yeah, that sounds like a likely story. Wouldn't want a murdering bandit commander with no morals," Drahkin said dryly.

"Great gods! All you intend to do is mock me? If so, I really don't see the point in you being here. Why are you here, if you hate me and the White Wolf so much?" Raaj asked.

Drahkin paused. "No reason, particularly…I just…That fight I had with you so long ago was, for some reason, very memorable…We were completely matched. I got you by luck. That's what made it memorable," Drahkin said.

Raaj smiled. "Heh, so that's what it's about. I remember fighting you…I have ever since that day. We both went to our fullest. And we were even. Yet you still beat me! That's what really got to me. How frustrating, really. And now that I think about it, that's what happened this time, too! You caught me by surprise at the camp. I wasn't prepared. Why is it you've won twice, when we're evenly matched?" Raaj asked.

Drahkin stood up and walked to the jail cell. "It's not as much fun or as much of a challenge if you take the other guy by surprise. I'd like to fight you again--one on one. Fair and square. That would be a worthy battle," Drahkin said, smiling.

Raaj walked to the prison bars and stared Drahkin in the eye. "A worthy battle…hmm? It does sound interesting. Unfortunately, however, you seem to have led me to a jail cell, where I won't be leaving for quite a while!" Raaj said.

Drahkin stared at him. "Sure enough, sure enough…'Tis a shame. But you had it coming when you started murdering--"

"Don't even start that again!" Raaj exclaimed in annoyance.

Drahkin paused. "Fine, whatever. It was interesting to meet you again, Raaj of the White Wolf. I suppose we'll never see each other again, since you'll probably be hung. See you in the after life!" Drahkin said, turning.

"Yeah, right. Goodbye, odd, troubled bounty hunter," Raaj said, watching Drahkin leave the jail.

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Blue the Echidna: Hehe bonding talks :) Are all of the people in your story actual characters in EQ?
Amai's Reply: That's a very good question which I should have answered a long time ago! ^.^ The answer is, No. Only a few characters are actually based off EQ charas! The only ones currently in the fic that are based off EQ charas are Arelle and Lilliah, but Pluton will be making his appearance very shortly! Thanks for the review ^.^

Pluton: You have to stop going away so much ... that way you won't miss any updates! What am I supposed to do at work on Friday's when there is no update for me to read?!?!? ;) Keep up the good work!
Amai's Reply: Yay! It's Pluton! Hiya ^.^ Sorry 'bout the lack of updates, but I'll make it up to you by putting you in the story, hehe ^.^ It was nice to hear from you! Thanks for the review!