When Micah awoke in a daze dawn had broken, he could feel his head pounding and was vaguely aware of an undeniable pain toward the left of his ribcage.

He wasn't aware though of two figures standing over him, but as he slipped back into unconsciousness he could just make out two voices.

"You fool Anthur, Lord Elrenadia said to bring the boy alive and unharmed, and now because of you shooting him we'll … no, actually, you'll… be lucky if he makes the night!" This voice was a woman's, but the next voice was distinctly belonging to a man.

"But Sheeka, I didn't mean too!! I meant only to graze him, just enough to keep him down for a few hours so we could get him away from his family and the Shangs! I did not mean to kill him!"

"Tell that to My Lord! Anyway he's not dead yet, thankfully he's incredibly tough for a child his age, I think he'll be all right for now…. And there's only a few hours until we reach the hideaway… so hopefully, for your sake, he will be O.K until then!".

Only bits and pieces of their conversation were registering themselves in Micah's mind…. Lord Elrenadia…. the Shangs…kill him…

He passed out again, and as light shone through the trees, someone lifted him carefully from the forest floor and into a covered wagon, and a second person covered him with a blanket as the wagon started moving, and trundled off into the woods.

Micah woke alertly and bolted upright, before yelping in pain and falling back down into the bed he was lying on. His ribcage, which was bandaged, was throbbing painfully, and his head didn't feel much better.

A lady, with flame red hair and brown eyes, was standing quietly at the foot of his bed. She had jumped slightly when he'd awoken and was now leering evilly at him.

He wondered dazedly to himself that she looked just like Lyran did whenever Micah used to take the last bread roll at dinner, or when their father, Domitan, had proudly handed over his favourite dagger to Micah, for no apparent reason, and had given Lyran nothing, or whenever Lyran would watch Micah nearly fall over whenever he tried to lift a proper sword.

My sword! He realised, and glanced desperately around the room for it.

Oh no! He thought, as the lady saw the line of his gaze and hissed, "Don't even think about it little man!" She scooped up his weapons from the chair and dumped them all into a nearby wardrobe.

Micah stared at her, trying to remember where he knew her from I know that voice! Hmm… I suppose she must have one of the ones that kidnapped me! Oh gods! Where in Mitros name am I!

"Who are you? Where am I?" he asked trying to keep his face and voice free of the fear building up inside of him. Remember what mother taught you! You're stone blank, absolutely nothing… No thought, no emotion, nothing can touch you….nothing…

She came back and stood over him "Be quiet boy!" she whispered, drawing a small knife from her belt and holding it threateningly to his neck for a moment.

Micah slowly shrank further back against his pillows and the lady handed him a cup of water from the bedside table. He knew what his parents would say if they could see him about drink something given to him by a complete stranger, but he couldn't see what other choice he had. She helped him drink down the water, and adjusted his pillows and blankets quietly as she watched the sleeping pills go into affect, and Micah drop into the darkness once more.

Sari desperately hunted through the stables for Micah, even though she knew he wasn't there. Shed checked three times before already. Just look again to make sure, you never know, he could be there the voice in her head whispered, urging her to check every nook and cranny of the building over and over again.

The sound of restless hooves stamping came from Nightfall's stall.

Sari opened the door and reached out a hand to the horse's cheek, "Oh Night, where is he?"

The hasty clatter of thundering hoof beats drawing near to the stable made her leap headfirst into the little mare's stall. She scrambled in amongst the pile of hay in the corner and quietly drew her sword little by little as a horse slowed from a canter a few stalls down from her rather inadequate hiding place. Unexpectedly she sneezed twice, the straw having set her off. She held her breath as footsteps came to a halt outside Nightfall's stall.

The little horse nickered a friendly hello as the newcomer, a tall young man with blond hair and bright sliver blue eyes, peered through the open the door. Sarini knew him in an instant and rose from her hiding place. The man, Zachaia, looked rather surprised to see her appear from a heap of straw.

"Hello future Wolf, long time no see…. I've been looking everywhere for you…. what were you doing in the hay?"

"I was looking for Micah" she replied as she stepped away from the bed of straw, and out of the stall.

"Why would Micah be in a pile of horse feed?" he asked, eyes glinting with amusement.

" Oh shut up Hawk! I mean I was in here looking for Micah, then I heard you coming, and didn't no whether you were friend or enemy so I hid in nearest possible place, alright?" She snapped.

"Of course" he replied in a manner that suggested he didn't believe her.

She glared at her friend "what are you doing here anyway?"

"Father… I mean Panther sent word to us of little Micah's bizarre disappearance… and he asked me to come help you look for the poor kid".

Sari looked up at him, confused, as she brushed the hay from her hair and clothes, "Zee what in the name of the Gods are you talking about?! How could your Father, I mean Panther, have sent word? That's not possible!! Micah's only been gone for three hours! It would have taken you days to get here without rest even at a full gallop!"

The hilarity of what he'd told her suddenly disappeared from her expression as the realisation slowly dawned upon her. She stared at her friend, shocked. "He knew… Oh Gods, he knew… how could he do this… if he knew they were coming… if he knew before they got here…. Then…. but…but why didn't he say something, why didn't he warn me?? Why didn't he try and stop them?"

She tore free of Zee's preventive hand on her arm and ignored his shout of "Sar!! Wait... stop… Sar no…don't!!" she sprinted into the courtyard, and then into the Masbolle woods. She knew Zee's Father wasn't anywhere too close by the manor; she wasn't the future Shang Wolf for nothing. She tracked him downwards to the stream that ran all the way through Masbolle, following his scent and footprints to the water. Indeed he was there, standing with the Shang Bear, or Peter to some, who was an old friend of the Panther's, from his former birthplace of Queensgrace, prior to the Panther supposedly being saved by Sarini's mother, Keladry.

The Bear and Panther didn't seem to hear the disorder from the Masbolle manor stables, nor did they see the Future Shang Wolf and Hawk come crashing through the undergrowth and trip down the pathway toward them. But if they had have looked up they would have seen Sarini scrambling into sight amongst the bushes, with Zachaia bringing up the rear, and Sarini evading his useless attempts to stop her from getting nearer to his father. The two older Shangs were instead, immersed in deep discussion, or rather, the Panther was talking and the Bear listening. "Quite a funny story behind this girl, her father is Domitan the Commander of the Third Company of the King's Own, he took over when Raoul was offered the position as commander of the First, as you already know, and her mother is the famed Lady Knight Keladry, formerly of Mindelan, as once again you know already. Oh amazing woman that Lady, an old friend of mine wouldn't you believe! Well, the funny thing is, that with parents like Sar's you'd have thought that trying for a future as a knight or even going for a position in the Own was her calling, but no, lucky for us its Shang that's for her…quite remarkable this young girl, just like her mother. Why, she's only 17 and already fully prepared for her future title, yes yes The Shang Wolf will suite her down to the ground, I'm telling you. Oh and of course, of course my own lad is also here at the moment, young Zachaia! I must look for him later… He'll be 19 this spring…oh they grow up fast… seems like it was just yesterday I taught him to shoot his first arrow! Now when it comes to this boy and Shang it's a totally different story than with Sar, see he hasn't got that same independent killer instinct that our Wolf acquires. No no, for him… well he just attacks when you say attack and doesn't let up until he's brought his opponent down! He always does what I say, when I say it, no questions asked! Although that could just have something to do with the fact that I'm his father…but I'm confident it's the Hawk in him that makes him how he is. My Lady never wanted him to do this you know, as the eldest and inheritor of our lands she wanted him a knight! But no! He chose to follow his Papa! Haha! Yes that's my lad; you know the saying the cutest kittens have the sharpest claws? Well I like to think Zee inherits his looks and skill from his old man! What are you laughing about? Don't you believe me?! Yes my wife is stunning! You know my Evelyn! But come on! Have you seen the boy! He's the spitting image of me back in the day! And that's the truth… You seen the way girls throng to him? Ah here come the two youngsters now… Hello son, good journey I hope? And good day to you Sarini, why it's well past twelve noon… I see you're up early! Haha! Yes i'm sure they'll go far my Wolf and Hawk! Come from excellent stock they do! And are both my most talented fighters… always been hard to resolve on who was superior though…Zachaia is, of course, older… but with the Wolf, size and age doesn't matter, in fact she's more likely to attack if you're bigger, exactly what both Domitan and Keladry would do also! fine fine people they are! We should be heading up to them soon in fact.. Oh but I'd hate to see them under circumstances like this, such a pity about the Boy, to soon, to soon if you ask me… but its meant to be I suppose… did you know that my Zachaia should be ready to go through the Ordeal to become Shang any week

now! I cannot wait to see him pass! And i'm picking that Sarini's even more ready than Zee is! I know this is hardly the time to bring it up, and change the subject but I'm thinking that something like this is perfect practice before the Ordeal, don't you think so?"

Sar didn't take any notice of what Panther was blabbering on about to his companion. Panther was always blabbering on about something, and Keladry always said it was cos he was probably going through your pockets at the same time, and sure enough the Panther's right hand was slowly pulling some coins free of the Bear's left jacket pocket, while his left hand waved about in support of his words… Surely Panther has pulled this trick on the Bear plenty of times! Surely the Bear can feel the Panthers' hand! But then again, with all due respect, the bear is rather dense… she pushed the thought away, that isn't important right now! She scolded herself mentally as she charged toward them, with Zachaia still trying to pull her back. As she came nearer to Panther he called to them "Why slow down you two! Are you that happy to see me?? Well I'd miss me too, of course, after all these months, don't know how my wife and the children I have still at home… that'd be young Elsa, she's 7 and my youngest boy Daile, 5… handle it when I'm gone! Haha! Wolf.. What's wrong? You look ready to take someone apart!" He laughed at his joke, but his expression changed as quick as lightning as she lunged at him. He stepped easily out of her way, but she'd been anticipating his deference, and turned in midair to land easily a little way behind him. She moved into a combat position, fully prepared to attack him again, but he wasn't so enthusiastic about that. "Wolf what's wrong? Why are you jumping at me like that? We don't have time to train or fool around now! We need to find your brother! Silly girl!"

Sarini let out a hiss of rage and tried to spring at him again, but Zachaia rushed forward and caught her up in arms, desperately trying to hold her back. She struggled against him furiously, as she snarled at his father " My brother! MY BROTHER! He's exactly what I'm mad about". Perplexed quiet met her outburst in which Sarini still had no luck in freeing herself of Zachaia.

"Sar what are you talking about??" Tobeis asked her, softly.

"You knew they were coming for him to early! You knew it before you even arrived here yourself didn't you!"

"Yes Sar" he sighed "I did"

"Well then why didn't you warn us? Why didn't you at least tell Mama?"

"Because if I did dare try to caution her that date she was to have her youngest boy stolen from her… and your father… and your brothers and sisters… and you…and all of us in general… for evermore was coming far, far too early she would have almost certainly killed me" he replied effortlessly.

"Well what about Micah! He been kidnapped, they've probably killed him by now!! And all because you're nothing but an obstinate, worthless…"

Tobeis cut her of smoothly "Wolf they wont kill him until after he's done all to carry out his part of the Prophecy, you know that, know stop upsetting yourself… you ought to remember by now, I've told you enough times: all that occurs with your brother is meant to occur, its all fate and it's all destiny, you cant change that no matter how much you don't want it, it's the future"

"But he'll die, he'll die! I…I mean when I told Lyran… it was just because I was so mad at him…he's never been nice to Micah at all…. but I never thought, I didn't…I didn't think that…that he was actually…" She'd stopped fighting Zee and was beginning to cry. Tobeis moved forward to her and put a hand on the back of her head "I know Wolf, I've always known and I think so has he"

"But he's a child, he's just a child…"she cried, "I know that's the horrible part" he murmured back. Tobeis stared miserably at Sar as her heartbroken expression altered to rage.

"NO, NO I WONT LET IT HAPPEN! I PROMISED I'D PROTECT HIM…I…I promised him!" She suddenly pulled free of Zachaia and turned and bolted off into the woods. Tobies gazed after for a moment then turned to his son, "Zee go after her, and bring her back here before night, OK? We'll be up at the Manor with Domitan and Keladry, understand?" his son nodded and took off in Sar's wake "Yes father"; he called over his shoulder, before his vanished after his friend.

The Shang Panther turned slowly and led the terribly upset Peter back up to the Masbolle Manor. "The boy wont really die, will he Tobe? Surely, surely something can be done to save the lad?"

Tobe studied his comrade silently then whispered, "If it can be done, then it can't be done by us. Peter, come, meet Dom and Kel, it, with a bit of luck, will do them good to see you before we head off".

And I need to see them to… Oh Gods she's going to kill me…though I suppose I deserve…yes Sarini was right…I should have warned them… I really am sorry little Micah

The two men walked slowly back up to the Manor, for Tobe a reunion was about to take place for the first time in 10 years, and it was far too long overdue.

Sarini darted easily through the forest that encircled her home, and sheltered the mountain range. She knew exactly where she was going, having both walked, run and ridden over these paths hundreds of times before. Unfortunately for him, Zee didn't know his way as good as she. In fact Zee didn't know his way at all. Sarini knew he was chasing her, she almost always knew where Zee was and why, apart from, of course, she hadn't known he was coming this morning, and she hated knowing why now. It wont happen, the Prophecy is wrong, it's a lie, just a lie… that's all it is, Micah will be fine… he'll be fine, you'll find him and he will be fine… then you can just take him home and everyone will forget all of this ever happened… the thoughts thudded through Sarini's head with every step she took. He'll be ok… he'll be ok…Oh gods no he wont!! He's dead, he's dead I know it! I can feel it…he's dead and it's my fault… it's all my entire fault… I couldn't protect him… AND NOW IM A MURDERUR… im a murderer…

She couldn't take it. Her brother was dead and it was her mistake. She knew it. She could sense it. Immediately she changed route. She'd been running along the foot of the Range, but now she headed up it. She welcomed the pain that rubbing such a steep slope caused her body and the air it robbed from her lungs. She scrambled upwards, hardly living due to the shortage of breath in her body. She stumbled to the top of Wolfhowl hill a few moments later. Wolfhowl hill was small rise that stood over the pool that the stream, which flowed around her home and half of the forest, ran into and out of. She stood for a moment, watching the bottomless navy freezing water churn underneath her, then pulled in a ragged breath and jumped.

Zee stared in shock as his best friend plummeted to her death. He'd followed her as best he possibly could through the twisting paths of the Wolfcall Range, but hadn't had much luck gaining on her, until this moment. Now he watched in terror as Sarini fell. NO, no, I wont let her die; no matter what I'll never let her fall… oh gods please let them both live! If you want Sarini, Black God, you're going to have to get through me, and if you want Micah you'll obviously have to get through her, which means getting through me again…. so once I save her… bring it on!! He wasn't sure how smart it was, offering himself to a God like that, in fact he wasn't even sure the Black God had heard him, but at the moment all that mattered to him was Sarini. He tore out from beneath the trees seconds before she hit the water, and dove in. Swimming hard against the current, he made it out to where he'd seen her disappear beneath and surface. He took a deep breath, and swam down into the depths of the pool. Sar where are you…. Sar! You'd better be around here somewhere! Oh god this water is cold! Im gonna get hypothermia all because my best friend is crazy… that's not very fair. AH-HA there you are! Knew I'd find you!! He sunk down next to her and pulled her body against his. Please still be alive please! Ill do anything just don't die on me…you can no t die on me Sar, I wont let you… please please please just hold on!!!

He pulled her upwards and together they shot to the surface. It seemed to Zachaia like an age before he would inhale air again. He finally broke the surface and pulled her motionless body up next to him then swam with her to the shoreline. Urgently he lifted her up and carried her to the bank. He set her down and checked her breathing. Nothing. Oh gods Sar... please please please breathe, huh… looks like ill have to make you breath myself he thought as her placed an ear to her chest. No heartbeat. He held hand up to her mouth and nose. No breathe. Lastly he placed his fingers to her neck. No pulse. Oh gods Sar! Forgive me for what im about to do!!! He thought

Before he tilted her head back, blocked her nose ad sealed her lips with his. He gave her two breaths then desperately tried to start her heartbeat again, he pressed down on her chest again and again then listened. Yes! Heartbeat ok so it was agitated and irregular but it was definitely a heartbeat! He pressed his lips to hers and breathed for her again, then sat back. Please please please please please he prayed silently. He gazed at her face, almost in desperate tears Sar please please don't leave me, don't die, don't leave me…. I know you're alive your hearts beating Sar, just breathe please just breathe. Suddenly her eyelids flicked. She then bolted upright, turned on her side and started vomiting water.

"Oh thank The Goddess you're alive," he cried happily, as he jumped at her, flung his arms around her up and pulled her up to his chest. "You saved me?" she gasped out "Yeah, you can thank me later" he joked, hugging her powerfully. "You jerk," she suddenly screamed, as she punched him in the stomach. "WHAT?" he choked out, fighting for air, as she lunged onto him again and kicked him in the shins. They wrestled for a moment, both of them angry, before he managed to drag her off him and hold her down. "Why are you so mad at me? I just saved your life and all you want to do is rip my head off?!" he screamed. "Yeah, I do want to rip you head of! In fact ripping your head off sounds pretty good right about now!" she yelled back, green blue eyes livid. "You don't get it Zee! I didn't want to be saved! I didn't want you to follow me or find me or jump in and rescue me! It's actually the exact opposite of what I wanted!" she managed to throw him of her and sit up, tears streaming down her face. After a while he slowly sat down next to her "You wanted to die?" she nodded, and then put her head in her hands. "But why" he asked, wrapping his arms around her and clinging to her tight. She leant her head against his arm and whispered, "Because my baby brother is going to die!"

He sighed dejectedly, "I didn't want you to know it was confirmed so soon, not at least until we had him out of here, and things made more sense, but that all went up in smoke when he got stolen. Then I tried to stop you getting to Dad, but you were so mad, and you're pretty much unstoppable when you're angry…" he almost smiled, then mumbled "I'm so sorry about Micah, but you know, the Prophecy does have two outcomes… even though the second one is a long shot, its still a chance" he glanced at her, "yeah just not a very good one" she whispered back.

"Come on" he said after a while. He stood and offered her his hand "we'd better get back, your Father is probably sick with worry" she nodded absently, then asked, "not my mother?" "No" he smiled, "not your mother, because Papa isn't stupid enough to tell her you and me are out here all alone…he'd probably let her think I'm trying to have my wicked way with you!"

She laughed, "I'd like to see you try", and together they walked back up to the Manor.

(A/N: So did you like it? Sorry it took so long to put up, but its here now! It's quite long. Sorry about that. Anyway please review and say if you think I should continue, cos I'm really not sure where I'm going with it! Also if you've got any ideas about the Prophecy then I'd love to hear I haven't actually made one yet!! Thanks. By the way what did you guys thinks of Tobe being in this? I probably shouldn't have made him Shang, but when I created Zachaia, he reminded me of Tobe so I made Tobe his dad! Anyway review please!!)