A/N: Thanks much to Dot the Distracted, a writer of fics and Elwing for your reviews. Sorry this took so blimin long. Stupid writers' block! R R!


"The cavalry has arrived!"

Astrana turned at the shout and saw Ferbale coming through the trees. She had been so preoccupied with thinking about what Lorthan could possibly want that she hadn't even noticed his arrival. But her worries evaporated at the sight of her Torna – her closest friend – and she jumped out of her nest and ran towards him.

"You made it!" she called as she ran into his outstretched arms.

Ferbale grinned. "Did you ever doubt me?"

"I hope I get a welcome like that." They turned to see the speaker. Emerging from the forest was a Kinto'un. He was taller than Ferbale and his fur more red than orange. Everything about him radiated power, from his thick, strong tail to his muscular build.

"Lorthan!" Astrana exclaimed, but made no move to greet him the enthusiastic way she had Ferbale.

This didn't seem to put him off however as he pulled her into the traditional embrace of their people, tails intertwined and foreheads pressed together. Astrana tensed up, not wanting to be that close to the one who hurt her so badly, but either he didn't notice or didn't care.

Finally he let her go and she retreated several steps before asking him, "What are you doing here?"

"I come bearing great news!" he said cheerily, seemingly oblivious to the cold tone of her voice. "There was a mistake in your test."

Astrana looked at him quizzically. "What kind of mistake?" she asked suspiciously.

"It turns out that somehow your test got switched with Naria's. She was the infertile one." Lorthan's revelation was disturbing in more ways than one. All present knew that the only reason Astrana wasn't bonded with Lorthan was because of her test. This did not bode well.

"W- What does this mean?" she stammered.

"It means, my love that you get to come back home, be bonded to me and restore your family's honor."

This did not receive the response that he had wanted. "No!" Astrana cried, backing away from him in shock.

"Isn't it what you've always dreamed of?" he asked smugly.

"When I was young and naive maybe. But now I have something more important to do with my life. I'm needed here."

Lorthan seized her arm roughly. "Who said you had a choice?" he growled menacingly. "You will come back with me, you will be bonded to me and you will like it." Maintaining his hold on her, he started to pull her in the direction of their ship.

He might have succeeded too, had he not been knocked down from Ferbale's surprise kick to the back. Astrana scurried behind Ferbale, seeking protection from an apparent madman.

Lorthan looked from the fearful expression on Astrana's face to Ferbale's determined one. "There is no reason for you to stay here. The Humans are doomed." He hissed.

Astrana moved forward warily. "What do you mean doomed?"

Lorthan laughed harshly. "I talked to the Yeerk leader. He was very accommodating in our deal. I've guaranteed the safety of our people. And all I had to do was deliver your pathetic human friends to him."

"A deal?" Ferbale asked in disbelief. "You think those foul creatures will stay true to their word? As soon as they have the humans who do you think they will turn on? Us, that's who. You are either foolish of mad to believe otherwise."

"Fine! Stay here and be enslaved with your precious humans!" Lorthan shouted, sprinting off into the woods towards the ship.

"We have to stop him." Ferbale whispered, turning to Astrana. But she was gone.


Lorthan arrived at the ship within minutes, his mind a storm of anger and revenge. It served them right, being left behind. They should have come with him. "Door!" he called in his mother tongue. "Open: password krashan." The door failed to open. Lorthan growled and repeated the password, but still nothing happened.

"What's the matter? Not used to things not going your way?" Astrana asked, leaning up against the ship, casually sharpening her daggers.

"Open the door!" he barked at her.

"Oh I don't think so, my love." She said, spitting the last two words. "I can't let you leave now." Before he could react she had pushed him down into the dirt and paralyzed him by jabbing her thumb into the pressure point on the back of his neck.

Then she began to do something that hadn't been done in over two centuries. (In human time) She began the Pont'un – the mind wipe. She could feel him try to fight her, to push her out of his mind, but she slammed through his mental barriers and wrapped her consciousness around his own.

Soon there was nothing left. His mind was as blank as the day he was born. It had been completely stripped of all memories.

When Ferbale arrived, he saw Lorthan examining a tree as if he had never seen one before. In a way, he hadn't. He looked around for Astrana and it wasn't long before he found her curled up in a ball only a few meters away.

Hearing his approach, she bolted into his arms. "I had to do it. I had no other choice." She choked between sobs.

"Shhh. I know, I know. You had to protect the humans." He could feel his heart breaking as he held her. He had once promised to protect her and when she had needed him most, he hadn't been there. "It's okay now." He said, stroking her back, trying in vain to comfort her.