Anuzu raced through the forest, coughing as the smoke caught up with her. The flames would not be far behind, she knew that. She had to keep running, or she would be burnt up. Around her other animals were also fleeing from the flames that didn't seem deterred by the snow or ice. That in and of itself was most frightening. There was no telling how it could be stopped. Nor was there any way of knowing if Enzan or the rest of the pack had survived. She had heard the explosion behind her, but even then she had been to far away to help. Her only hope was to find Kichi and Tainn.

((Tainn! Kichi! If you can hear me, answer me!)) Anuzu wailed, crashing blindly through the trees.

((I hear you. What do you want? Tainn replied, sounding very much like a sore loser.

((Now is not the time to let your pride overcome your common sense!)) Anuzu snapped, turning in the direction of Tainn's voice. ((There is a fire, caused by that demon we all sensed coming. The Pack was caught in the explosion starting it, and I don't know what happened to Enzan. He sent me after you before it all happened.))

(Shit!)

That was Kichi's voice without a doubt. Through the growing smoke Anuzu spotted a figure not to far in front of her. The figure grew clearer as she got closer; it was Kichi. She had the knife Enzan had dropped after the fight, and was holding it tightly. Tainn was lying on the ground, bandages wrapped around his body.

"Anuzu, where did you last see Enzan?" Kichi asked, pulling her coat up around her nose and mouth. She knelt down close to the ground, trying to stay out of the smoke. Anuzu and Tainn were doing the same.

((With all this smoke and flame its impossible to say. I do know that the place they were at is where the fire started. And I don't see how any of us can get back through it.))

"You can't, that's for sure. Neither can Tainn, he's still injured. Darius and the others will see the flames and call the rangers out to fight it, but I can't wait that long. The river runs up the way Enzan was going. I'll use it to get past the flames. You two get to the river as well, but stay away from the flames. You'll only get in the way."

((Fine words for a human.)) Tainn snorted.

"Just remember that you were beaten by a human," Kichi replied, not intending for it to be a spiteful remark. Just a reminder that he wasn't as superior as he thought himself to be. Tainn simply remained quiet. "Okay, lets get moving. The river should be in that direction."

((Don't worry. Just follow the army of rodents and you'll find it in no time.)) Anuzu said, trying not to step on any of the scurrying creatures running around her feet.

Kichi chuckled and lifted Tainn to his feet. He moved stiffly, but quickly enough considering his injuries. Anuzu moved behind him, and behind her was Kichi. She was practically crawling, trying to stay out of the smoke. The last thing she needed to do was collapse from breathing in the fumes. Once she got to the river she would have to hope that it would take her past the fire, and that both Enzan and Netto were safe.

*****

Enzan came awake suddenly, feeling as if his head was going to explode. He was covered in ash and soot, which was not a comforting sight as he remembered the flames that had engulfed the wolves that had tried to protect him. Their screams of pain still rung in his ears...

"Ah, I see you've finally woke up. Good."

The man that had been on the hill came into view, and he was smiling quite sinisterly. Enzan glared at him, then caught sight of Netto lying against a tree, his skin tinted blue from the cold. He was shaking visibly, and Enzan could hear the boy's teeth chattering.

"Netto!" Enzan screamed. "What did you do to him?!"

"Don't worry, he's just a little cold. If you want, I can toss him into that nice little inferno I started to warm him up. Oh wait, I can't kill him just yet. I need to find out which one of you is which, first."

"Wh-what do-es th-that mean?" Netto asked, struggling to get the words out.

Cesare grinned at him and lifted Netto up as though he weighed nothing. Carelessly he tossed Netto next to Enzan, did his best to help Netto into a sitting position, which was hard to do when he was half paralyzed himself.

"There, now that you two are next to each other, this shall be much easier."

The large man took a dagger out of his coat. This was different from the knife that he'd used earlier on Netto. This one was made completely of black ivory, and was shaped like a snake getting ready to strike. The eyes in the dagger flickered, as though alive. Cesare smiled at the boys.

"I'm sure that the white wolf explained your history to you two years ago. After all, that's how my master knew that you had come back, and ordered me to begin the preparations for his return. This dagger holds the essence of my master, Nomde. But, in order for him to fully return to this world, he needs the blood of one you two. The one who is the Mirror."

"The one who is the mirror? What kind of idiotic crap is that?" Enzan snorted. Silently he thought, as long as I keep him talking, there's a chance Kichi will get here before he can do anything.

"Curious fellow, aren't you? Well, I don't suppose it can hurt to tell you. You already know you're Riane and Aleka, but what the white wolf didn't tell you was why they were so special. Their spirits, now yours, held a very special power. One was the Mirror, which has the ability to reveal the truth to those who are willing to face it. The other was the Mask, which has the ability to conceal the truth when needed. And what I need is the one that's the Mirror. And the test for it is quite simple."

The sinister smile grew as Cesare stepped closer to them, holding out the blade of the dagger. He held it in front of Enzan first, holding it right above his heart. Enzan was certain that the man was going to stab him, but Cesare did nothing of the sort. Instead, he held the dagger in front of Enzan for a few moments, then moved it over to Netto.

Netto's eyes practically glowed with fear as the dagger neared his heart. That fear was quite reasonable, too. The moment that the dagger came near Netto's heart it sprang to life, wriggling and writhing like a real snake! Netto whimpered with fear, completely unable to move.

"Ah! We have a winner. Looks like I had the right one all along. Oh well, there was no harm in checking. It would seem your fate is sealed, boy. Pretty soon you'll be dead, and my master shall be back among the living."

"Don't you touch him!" Enzan shouted, struggling to get to his feet. It was hard, very hard, but somehow he managed to do it. This greatly surprised Cesare, but he wasn't startled for long, and he was much stronger that Enzan, who had a broken arm.

"I'm sorry, but you're opinion is no longer required. I have to hurry and get the icecube here to the Heart of the Forest, and I don't have time to babysit you. So, you can take a nap and freeze to death instead. I can guarantee that it will be the less painful death of the two."

So saying, Cesare struck Enzan across the head, knocking the older boy unconscious.

"ENZAN!" Netto screamed as Cesare tossed him over his shoulder. "EEENNNZZAAANNN!"