Disclaimer- this is my first fic from a book by my favorite author Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. It's for her new book, Hawksong so if you haven't read it, don't read this because it contains spoilers and you might be confused. It's a Zane/Danica fic. Just like the book its in Danica's POV. R&R. Thanks to all the people who reviewed. Hawksong is my favorite book by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. When I read the summary I was skeptic because I was so use to her writing about vampires and witches, but after reading the story, it became my favorite.

Slowly I opened my eyes to see an avian doctor and Zane by my bedside. I could tell he was a raven from the feathers that hung off his neck. I looked over at Zane and he quickly looked up from the floor and into my eyes. He rushed over and kissed my forehead relieved to see me all right.

"My baby, is it all right? I need to know," I bursted out at the doctor who tried to calm me down so he could tell me.

"Tuuli Thea your baby is going to be okay. It must have gotten your survival gene," he said smiling warmly at me. I still wasn't sure that I believed him.

"How do you know? I was stupid and I almost killed my baby. How can you be so sure," I pondered needing to know. I had to know what was going on. My head was about to burst from worrying and anticipation as the doctor explained everything to me.

"Your baby is still alive Tuuli Thea. I know this because I have listened and heard its heart beat for the last week while you were sleeping. The baby would have died within a few hours if having his immune system," he explained and I slowly calmed down. The doctor left and Zane and I were alone.

"How could I have been so stupid. How could I have not remembered," I cried into Zane's chest.

"It's alright Danica. We are lucky that our baby didn't die. You saved my life again Danica and we are all here and safe for now," he told me while rubbing my hair softly. He was right, we were lucky this time. I just have to be more careful. Zane and I looked up as Rei came in to give us a report. Well, to give Zane a report. He had no idea I was awake till he saw me crying in Zane's arms. Rei wanted Zane to leave the room to tell him the news, but I refused. Even Zane agreed with Rei at this point.

"The news will only make you more worried and stressed out. You know that won't be good for the baby, "Zane insisted trying to pull himself away from my grasp.

"You think me not knowing is going to help me any more? I'll be twice as worried. Please just tell me," I choked out and he shrugged. He knew I was correct and pulled me back into his arms.

"Vasili got away after you fainted a week ago. We have new information that he is starting a rebel army to fight against us," he informed and I tried my best to keep a straight face.

"We need to go to the Hawk's Keep," I replied sternly. We needed to go back there. We were supposed to be there a week ago.

"It's not safe Dani. You can get shot down and you're not strong enough yet. Wait until we are sure of your safety," he said trying to reason with me even though it was no avail. I was think headed and if I wanted to do something I didn't care about the dangers. I tried to get up to fight some more, but Zane pulled me back down.

"You don't understand. That's where they will attack first. My people are in danger," I scorned wanting to get my way, but it was useless. They were right even if I didn't want to hear it.

"Your mother is on her way over here and we have guards all around the keep. I promise you Dani they will be safe," Rei assured me and I settled down again. I felt Zane tense at the mention of my mother coming. It has been more then a year and she still doesn't like him very much. Then Rei left to greet my mother when she came and to let us rest.

Zane feel asleep with his arms fastened around me. After a week of sleeping I was not tired. I wouldn't move because I know Zane, as well I feel safer when I am in his arms. That night we kind of traded places from what was of the last week. He slept and I thought. I thought about everything, but one thing for certain or someone. I thought of someone I hadn't thought of in a very long time and I regretted it. I thought of my older sister Iris. How much I missed her. I use to look up to her growing up. She was stronger and more beautiful then anyone I had ever met. She died when I was eleven defending her people in a bloody battle that I walked among shortly afterwoulds.

*Flashback*

"Iris are you okay," I cried running up to her. She had been shot in the stomach by an arrow. I knew she was dying, but I didn't want to believe it.

"Dani," she choked out coughing up blood. I cried some more as she did so. I loved her so much and I knew she wasn't ready to die.

"Iris don't leave me. I love you and I don't want you to die. I'm sorry for annoying you while we were growing up. I promise I won't anymore if you don't die," I naïvely promised her. She smiled at me a bit and pulled me down into a hug. She kissed my forehead and I knew she was going to leave no matter what.

"I love you too Dani. I'll always be with you and don't you forget that ever. All I want is to stop this war. Promise me Dani, if you can stop it in any way possible you'll do it. Promise me," she asked me. I shook my head promising her. "Dani will you sing to me? Your beautiful voice is the last thing I want to hear."

"I wish to you sunshine, my dear one, my dear one. And treetops for you to soar past. I wish to you innocence my child, my child. I pray you don't grow up to fast," I sang to her. She slowly closed her eyes and left me, but not before whispering that she loved me one final time. I cried into her chest and fell asleep on her cold dead corpse. I knew she wasn't there anymore, but it gave me comfort lying with her. Rei came and carried me home a few hours later when he had found me. For months I laid in trance shutting out the world. My sister, my role model, my savior was gone forever.

*End Flashback*

I opened my eyes after remembering my last encounter with her. I found that there were tears rolling from them. I guess it stills and pains me to think about her, but I did keep my promise to her. I ended the war in the only way I knew how and I didn't want to at the time. That is something I will always be proud of. There is a swollen lump in my throat, but I cannot move for fear I will wake Zane up. If our child is a girl or if I'm going to have a little girl one day I will name her Iris after my sister. I realize you can't bring back the dead by naming your children after them, but it is a way of remembering them and honoring them. Something I need to do for her, for if I didn't make that promise to her, we would probably still be in a deep war that would have probably never ended.