Eve: Hey everyone.

Mike: Sup reviewers?

Eve: Okay well I realized I hadn't had an O.C.C. in a loooong time, so we are having one now, glad you could join.

Mike: I wonder if we could have found a more depressing time to put one in?

Eve:... you haven't read this chapter, have you *gives him a sad look*

Mike: Oh no! Who dies now!

Eve:...

Mike: Ah, Reviewers I'm sorry, I spell check, which means I push the spell check button while Eve tries to regain the feeling in her fingers, I didn't read the chapter yet and can't warn you about anything.

Eve: HAHAHAHAHA *Laughing evilly*

Sarah: Hey guys, Oooh an O.C.C.

Eve: Mwahahahahahahahahaha!

Sarah: Hey Eve... um... when is Harry going to be b-

Eve:*laughing vanishes* you finish that sentence, and you die

Sarah: But! Come on! You must tell ME!!!!!

Eve: No. Reviewers Review

~~~~~~~~~~

Cota's arms were forced behind him as Mcnair hauled him forward. Cota closed his eyes, he thought of his friends, Derek, Lisa, and Oweiry. He thought of James, his lord who was always inspiring him to do his best and if that was not good enough, do more. Be yourself or someone better, but nothing less. Make that better person you. He pictured Lily, always smiling, very strong. He had seen her take down a charging Kappa in a matter of seconds, while in the water no less. She was always kind hearted and her cooking was wonderful. Then he pictured Kira, the little girl destined to serve this monster. Made in a lab out of blood stolen from a species that fled this world. Yet, her eyes shine brightly, like her smile and her soul is happy. Cota took in a breath, calming himself; he knew what he had to do. He opened his eyes and planted his boots firmly on the ground. Mcnair pulled and felt the resistance, but before he could react, Cota swung his front leg back, tripping Mcnair and freeing himself. He grabbed his knife and slashed at a Death Eater that had reached out to grab him. Cota felt someone grab him from behind and pull him into a room. Cota turned around and slashed the man who had grabbed him, across the chest. He pulled out his second knife and used it on the Death Eater attacking from his right. The other rammed its way deep into his third attackers arm. Cota felt a great blast hit him and was thrown to the other side of the room. He hit the wall and heard a loud CRACK! Cota dropped to the floor and tried to get up. However, the attack continued, rocketing down his spine like an earthquake and burning his nerves like acid. Voldemort stood infront of him. He nodded to his henchmen to pick Cota up and continue on their way to the mansion. Cota, breathing hard, pulled himself up and struck at anyone who came near him. Like a rattlesnake, displaying its fangs and whipping the rattle, warning anyone that came near that he would not hesitate to strike a deadly blow.

"Relax" Voldemort commanded, his voice almost a whisper. "If you want to fight, I'll fight, but not here"

"I already told you I'd die before I joined you," Cota growled.

Voldemort merely sneered an evil 'I've got a nasty little trick up my sleeve' sneer. "How does this work for you? I want you on my side, and I get what I want. If we fight here, I just need to knock you out and then take you to the mansion that way. You wake up in a lot of pain and I have to lock you in some dungeon that I would only use for enemies. Or you can give up this pointless fight, come with me now, and rest for the night, then I'll fight you, if you wish"

Cota snarled, not dropping his weapons. The Death Eaters stepped forward and once again, a fight broke out.

"What is this proving? That you are loyal-" Voldemort stated in an annoyed tone.

"Not at all" Cota interrupted, feeling something inside his trench coat pocket, other then his knife. "It proves that I've got something far better then you'll ever have. And I'd rather die then betray it"

There was a pause in which no one moved. Cota could see the faces. They burned into his mind and his attention was turned to Voldemort.

"Very well then" Voldemort stated.

He was going to try to knock Cota out. Cota knew this and readied his wand for an attack. When Voldemort raised his wand, so did Cota. There was one way to block that attack... Cota casted his spell and saw the looks of surprised horror on the Death Eater's faces. Cota had casted the most powerful blast spell he knew. It mixed with Voldemort's spell and the two acted like a match and a room full of gas. The building exploded in a humongous blast. The walls seemed to be liquid and moved in waves. Voldemort snarled and raised his wand toward Cota. Cota's eyes burned at the spell hit. Ice ran through him and he clenched his teeth together, however that wasn't enough to block the scream. The scream of agonizing pain that ripped through him. The spell blasted him and everything around him crumbles. Cota was struck to the ground and his world began to fade into nothingness. All the sound erupted through his ears in deafening bursts creating one high-pitched screech. That night, everything they had done, everyone who had fought, every drop of blood, and all the spells they had cast seemed to be summed up in that sound. It was the sound of death, and it was everywhere.

*******

Lyle sat on the steps to the academy. Everyone had been dismissed, but no one wanted to give up. It had been two hours since he arrived, and still all Lyle could think about was his lost teammates. They had fought so hard and done more then he could have imagined. Lyle looked across the field, a tiny, thin strip of light showed.

"Ah, so dawn can start after all" He spat through clenched teeth.

The reinforcements had been sent a few minutes ago thanks to James's debate skills. Lyle sighed deeply and looked back at the thin strip of light. It was gone! Darkness engulfed everything again and Lyle jumped to his feet. He focused on the spot like a hawk, his eyes narrow as he squinted at some, small, movement. There, again, the movement. Lyle readied his weapon and a few other people came out to see. James was among them and everyone had strange looks on their faces. Horror, alarm, anger, surprise, sadness, hope. Then the movement came again and Lyle prepared to attack, but stopped as a figure emerged. The figure was slow and seemed to hobble. As it came closer, Lyle saw that it was riding on a horse! Lyle threw his weapon down and ran toward the figure. He saw another horse behind it. The figure stepped out of the shadows, both horses appearing slowly. James saw one horse in particular. It was covered in blood, and rider less. The horse limped, wavering as he walked and his head was down. Its saddle was torn badly and there were burn marks on it. The horse came closer and James moved to it. Touching its forehead, lightly stroking it. Through the blood, James saw the familiar shape of a four-leafed clover. The rider, leading the horse, had a solemn look on his face. Lyle was the only one to speak.

"Trevor" He breathed.

The rider nodded slightly, as if it were a relief to hear his name. Paula ran out of the academy, toward Trevor and Lyle. They were the survivors. Five horses and three riders. Trevor was helped into the infirmary by Lyle and Paula. A graduated student from the guild of Magical Creatures, took Ocius. When he tried to take Patrick, Pat reared up and snorted, angry and hurt. James grabbed him and told the G.S that he'd take care of Patrick. James looked into the emerald green eyes, hollow and sad. Patrick had lost his best friend. Gyriph came over and nuzzled Pat, the way a father might. Pat stays still, looking into some unseen world. James takes him and lets him rest on some straw in a warm stable. Lily, Kira and Trinidy soon follow and they all work at healing Pat. Trinidy uses her small size to wash around his eyes. Kira uses a wet sponge to help clean him. Lily uses healing charms on his wounds and James works on filtering the poison out of Pat's blood. They work in silence, still in too much shock to converse. Had this happened? They had proof right infront of them, under their hands, yet no one wanted to believe it. Kira moved as if in some dream world where she was safe and none of this was happening. Kira looks out towards the east. There is no sun, just a very small, slowly growing line of sunflower yellow. Creeping up toward the academy gate, spilling over anything in its path. Yet no hope comes with it. The blue of the sky, the blue that appears for only a few seconds before dawn. That was the blue of Cota's eyes.

***

"Split up! Search everywhere. There MUST be some survivors," Oweiry commanded. They arrived at the scene only moments before and it had been a shock to everyone. The destruction was immense and the smell of blood was thick. It blew past them and choked them with it's sent. Oweiry's eyes were as cool and dark as always, yet determination, shock, hope and despair were lying behind them. They turned over a crumbled wall, sifting through the rubble, and would find no one there.

"Help!" Oweiry's head jerked up at the sound. He ran towards it, stopping and waiting for it to come again. "Help me, please!" The desperate cry rang. Oweiry leapt off Kazan and began delicately moving the rocks. Derek was soon beside him, yanking out the stones, rolling them down and away, then getting another stone. Eventually they came to a sheet of solid concrete. Derek and Oweiry moved another rock and saw someone's arm. Derek patted the arm.

"We'll get you out" He called. "Hold on"

They moved the wall and pulled out the person. She couldn't move her legs and was extremely weak. Her hair was dark redish/brown and all out of place. Derek called for a healer and tried to ask the girl of anyone else was alive. She shook her head that she didn't know. Over the next fifteen minutes, they heard another cry. Soft, weak, but alive. It was barely audible and sounded extremely pained. They dug out its owner. He had a dislocated shoulder, which was easy to tell. He was bleeding heavily and was delirious. All together, that made five. Two were missing. They searched everywhere, and found nothing except the body of Zalik. He would be sent to be buried with his family. The sight of the dead rider brought everyone down. The two they had found were dying, and one was dead. Three were back at the academy, hurt, but aright. The other? An MIA. Lost, never to be forgotten, but lost. Oweiry sighed, they had to leave, they had to get the survivors to safety, but... Oweiry shook his head.

"C-co" The girl sputtered.

"Hmm?" Derek asked.

"Cota...he.. They took... he... and explosion... some one screamed" The girl muttered. Derek's face was twisted into an expression of horror and he turned away, he didn't want to know that his friend was tortured to death. He didn't want to hear it. He wouldn't listen and it wouldn't be true. "I...I've never heard such a cry" The girl shivered and her eyes were wide.

"Take her away" Derek breathed.

"He wouldn't join them! He said no! I heard it!" The girl protested, as if unless she said it everyone would believe he was just missing because he joined them. "I heard it. He said he'd rather die!"

Derek couldn't take it anymore. He waved for the healer's to take her to the academy, quickly. Everyone began leaving. Lisa ran over and announced that her team had left. Derek's team soon followed. Oweiry told his team to go, and they listened. The three students met each other's gazes. They didn't care if Cota was dead, they still wanted to find him.

***

Lily and James sat on a bench in the stable. Kira had taken to walking around with Trinidy. Pat was clean and feeling a lot better, but his heart stung just as hard as everyone else's. Kira sat under a tree on the grass. The golden light was creeping across the ground, purifying everything it touched. Kira's hair fell over her face as she stared at the ground. All the reinforcements had come back a while ago. Dawn was here. It was amazing how when you just sat, watching the sunrise, it seemed so fast. Yet tonight it took forever.

"The day with out a dawn" Kira whispered.

Trinidy patted her shoulder. "It'll be alright... Cota... Cota was a good person. He had a strong soul, so... he'll be fine. There are many stories of what happens after someone dies. Sometimes they are ghosts, sometimes they move on to a better place, some are reincarnated. It depends on what the person believed in"

"What do you believe in?" Kira asked.

"Oh, when fairies die they go to a happy place. A place where the elements are pure and strong. A place where magic is strong and used only for happiness. A place where the food is good and no one is ever hurt. A place where we wait to be reborn. A fairy that does great things and helps some one gets reborn as whatever they want to be. They are happier and treated better because they helped someone. There are evil fairies, but those usually get reborn as pixies," Trinidy explained.

Kira nodded, it helped to believe that Cota was somewhere that he could be happy at, that he would be safe at. However, the thought of never seeing him again stung horribly. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. They were supposed to be a family, forever and ever and ever. A rookie news reporter came and walked over to Kira. She kneeled infront of her and took out a pad of paper and a quill.

"Hi there little girl" She said in a kindergarten teacher's voice.

Kira gave her a confused look. "Hi" She answered, not knowing what else to say at a moment like this.

"My name is Rita. I heard that the Ministry of Magic screwed up royal", She sounded quite happy about this. "Any comment?"

Kira stared at her, the hurt showing in her eyes. Kira stood up, brushed herself off and turned to walk away.

"Hold on sweetie!" Rita grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "You have a picture with one of the riders in it. So you must be family"

Trinidy scowled, this reporter was good, but what a bitc-

"Hmmm, yep that must be a rider, otherwise you wouldn't be here" Rita paused, proud of herself. "What was his name?" She asked.

"...was?" Kira asked, her voice showed her anger. "What WAS his name?" A new fear dawned on her. When someone died the only thing, left of them was their memory. What if no one knew the real them? What if people changed it? What if someone changed or destroyed the memory? Then they destroyed the person!

"You're a cute little thing. Was he your brother? He has tortilla chip colored hair, that's a lot more yellow then yours, and the eye color is different. Was he adopted? Is he one of the survivors? How old was he? Would you say he was forced into a suicide mission? I heard someone was found dead? Do you know who it was? Do you know where that person's family is? How many were sent out and how many returned? Has anyone from the Ministry arrived here yet? Do you know where the survivors are? I would like to speak with them. Is Clef here now? I need-"

"SHUT UP!!" Kira snapped, freeing herself from Rita's grip and running toward the stables. Trinidy took this opportunity to attack Rita, she dropped everything that she could from the tree and onto Rita's head.

"Youch! Ow! Stop it! yowch!"

When Rita moved out of range, Trinidy took to the immature act of hair pulling. Kira made it to the stable, jumped into James's arms and buried her face into his shirt. Lily gave her a surprised look and Trinidy hurried in ahead of Rita.

"Keep her away from me!" Kira's muffled voice cried.

Rita barged in and quickly put on a more adult act.

"Hello, My name is Rita Skeeter. I'm a reporter for-"

"I don't care at this point" James glared, and wrapped a protective arm around Kira.

"How dare you" Lily scolded. "You hear about a change in counter attack plans and rush out here as soon as it is safe! Then you make a little girl cry! My little girl!"

"I didn't mean to make her cry I was only-"

"Being a coward" James filled in.

"To afraid to ask an adult or wait patiently like every other decent human being for an official report! People died tonight, and you could care less. You just want a story. These are human beings. People like you and me. You make them seem like items and shame on you!" Lily had had enough. "You who can easily act like human life is nothing! What if it was YOU! huh? What if it was you who were lying somewhere, bleeding to death. Would you want some snott-nosed reporter trying to interview you or your family!?"

"The people have a right to know what happened here" Rita responded the textbook answer.

"The riders protect them everyday. Aurors risk their lives killing magical creatures that threaten their lives everyday. Tonight we did our jobs, we protected the public, and we suffer for it" James stated, eyes cold as ice.

"I heard you sent G.Ss"

"I'll need to talk to your supervisor, unless you are of higher rank then them you will say their name with respect!" James's voice was barely above a whisper, yet it felt like a command.

"As you wish. I heard the academy sent Graduated students. Not, full fledged riders" Rita pursed her lips together and glared an 'answer that' glare.

"Yes, tonight the public was protected by younger riders" James answered, not giving her anymore answers then what would be in the official report.

"Why?" Rita asked, lips shooting open and head shaking slightly, giving James an arrogant stare.

"To prevent an ambush" James answered, walking away from Rita.

"But, isn't that exactly what happened?!?!" Rita demanded, pointing her index finger in a triumphant symbol of victory.

"Yes, you see. We got our information from the Ministry. They got their information" He paused staring her in the face. "From a news reporter"

Rita stopped, she couldn't think of a comeback for that. How was she supposed to put a spin on that? "You've got to give me more than that! How can I report THAT! 'Ministry takes advice from a reporter'... no, that would only make people laugh"

"Laugh!" Lily mocked. "You tell the public that people died and expect them to laugh? God save your soul"

James set Kira down at the tree she had been at before. Rita walked past him and Grabbed Kira's necklace.

"I'll need this for a picture" She stated. Kira responded by giving her a swift kick to the shin and reclaiming her locket. James turned to Rita.

"You'll be leaving now" He said, his voice somber and his eyes downcast and weary.

"I'm not ready yet" Rita protested.

"I wasn't asking" James confirmed. "Ah, here comes two guards now, they'll accompany you off the property. If I see you here again I will have you arrested and sent to Azkaban" James had hold of her arm and walked her toward the guards. They took her off the premises, and refused to say a word to her.

James walked inside, followed by Lily, and Kira sat on the bench outside the door. Trinidy went to go find some food and Kira stared down at her shoes. The sun was eye level now. Every rider that had returned was in the infirmary and everyone else was either going home, going to their rooms, or simply sulking around. James sits beside Lily as Clef expressed his sadness at their loss. He tells James that if he wants he can take vacation time, or extra shifts, whatever helps. He mentions that James can request a new squire and one will be found quickly. James just shakes his head.

"No one could replace Cota" He says.

Clef nods sympathetically. "Is there anything I can do to help you? Both of you?" He asks.

Lily and James shake their heads at the same time. "We've got good friends" James states.

"Yes, I've heard" Clef smiled. "Have you spoken to them recently?"

"Yes" Lily states. "We were actually thinking of asking Peter to be Kira's Godfather"

"Yes" James nods, a smile forming on his face. "Sirius would be a bit to rough for a girl, and I don't want her knowing how to defeat a Bogart at age four, so Remus is out too"

"We... we were going to ask Cota" Lily breathes, tears streaming down her face. "But he's more like a brother" She sniffs.

"Well, maybe Kira can go spend time with Peter and you too can take a cruise, paid for by me" Clef offers. "You don't have to answer now" He adds.

They finish their meeting with James promising to send an owl after they have considered the cruise. James walks out the door and sighs as he remembers that he hadn't taken Rita's notepad.

"Now everything will be twisted round before nightfall" James sighs and pats Kira on the head.

"... I... I didn't want her destroying him" Kira whimpers.

"Hmm?" James asked.

Kira slowly reaches out her hand and gives James Rita's notepad.

"You stole her notepad" James asks in astonishment.

"I didn't want her to destroy him" Kira sobs, rubbing her eyes and shivering. "Please, don't give it back to her"

James looks over at Lily, she has also started to cry again. James sits down next to Lily and pulls Kira up onto his lap.

"Everything's gonna be alright" James whispers. "In time"