Raven snarled in pain and bit down hard upon the hard leather strap in her mouth. All she got for her effort was a light slap across the muzzle, but the gypsy men around her still readied themselves for trouble.

Numerous cuts and bite marks lacerated her already scarred body. Jagged, ugly, bloody tears that showed all the characteristics of fierce fighting, and threatened infection.

'Why do you do this to yourself, huh?' the old gypsy woman who was tending her wounds asked none too gently whilst pressing a herbal remedy into a particularly deep bite on her shoulder. Raven hissed as the astringent worked its way deep into her exposed flesh to purge any poison.

'For them?' the woman glared at the men who had settled down again now they realised nothing was going to come of the exchange and continued counting out their profits. She took hold of the wolf's muzzle and turned it until they were eye to eye, 'Or are you just so angry and everything and everyone that you're not happy unless you're destroying someone else's life?'

Raven tore her face out of the older woman's surprisingly strong grip and spat out the bite-strap, glaring at the large black bird that cackled its agreement.

'You can shut up for a start,' she snarled.

The truth hurt. After that fateful moonless night on the forest road the gypsies had taken her back to their camp and healed her, giving her the choice to leave or stay once she was on the mend. Initially distrustful, she soon found their company comforting after so long alone.

They were people who judged on merit and usefulness, rather than on past transgressions, no matter how severe. The company of a wanted criminal didn't bother them, her obvious capacity as a hunter and fighter was far more interesting.

The first time they'd ventured the prospect of pit fighting to her she'd been apprehensive, but the rush she'd got the first time allayed any fears she might have had about doing it again. True, she never escaped unscathed, but she always came out in considerably better shape than the poor creature they pitted against her.

'It earns the family money, Mairenni. And it's more reliable than your magic birds.'

Raven whimpered slightly and grimaced as the silver-haired woman put on more pressure than she was sure was necessary onto a raw wound on her back.

'Pah, money. Don't try and fool either of us into believing that's the reason why you fight, Darklis Fire-eye. The sooner you stop this nonsense the better.'

'It wasn't all loss, though, was it?'

Mairenni sighed, 'No. No it wasn't.'

The gypsy witch-healer finished her cleaning, stitching and binding in silence while they both thought about Raven's latest prize. A wolf-child, human in appearance but with undeniable wolf heritage, they'd found him locked in a pen at the last fighting pit. They'd taken him as part payment to save him from Lady knew what terrible fate.

It had been the first softness Mairenni had ever seen in the Raven's eyes when the blood-soaked wolf had embraced the terrified boy and told him that everything was going to be all right.

She could feel his eyes on her now, wary and watchful, yet ultimately concerned. He didn't want to see anyone else hurt like he had been, least of all this black wolf with only one eye that shone like summer sunlight when she looked at him.

"Little Brengy" she called him, her little noble wolf, the first name he can ever remember being given that wasn't in contempt.

Mairenni bit the thread on the last stitch in Raven's torn shoulders. She patted the almost sleeping wolf as she got up and ladled some steaming liquid from a small po over the fire into a wooden cup.

'Drink this, get some food and think on what I've said,' she ordered, pushing the cup into Raven's clawed paw.

While she sipped her drink and plodded lazily to the fire, the dark-haired boy emerged from her hiding place to join her. She placed a comforting paw around his shoulders before scooping out poacher's stew for them both from a constantly bubbling cauldron.

A large black raven perched upon Brengy's shoulder and he chuckled when it started grooming his hair before dipping its heavy beak into his stew.

Mairenni watched with a hint of sadness in her steely eyes. Blessed and cursed with a prophet's sight, she knew such simple happiness couldn't last. And change flew on swift and callous wings.

Two shadows sat on a porcupine mound of burned out torches.

The night overhead was clouded and darkness prevailed over all. Hushed voices whispered to each other, catching up after so long apart. Anyone listening would've recognised the kinship between the two speakers.

'When did he say he'd be here, Drake?'

'Tonight was all he said. Didn't give the hows, whys or wherefores. Didn't really have time, Siri.'

'What do you reckon he wants?'

Even though he couldn't see it, Sirius felt his brother's face fall, 'I think he's looking for Luna.'

The two brothers sat in silence. Neither of them had got over their sister's death, despite nearly seven years having passed. It had pained them helping her five children set the charred bones of their parents into the family tomb and light two torches for them. It made it worse that all five seemed to have disappeared since.

'Greetings.'

At first they couldn't see where the refined voice had come from. Then they noticed a small form perched upon one of the charcoaled spikes, his serpentine tail wrapped around the pole to keep him stable, a small dragon the size of a housecat. It looked down its refined nose at them in a manner that if it were anyone else it would be disdainful, however he merely seemed perplexed.

'Did she have any children?'

'Five.'

'Any idea who she might have named as successor?'

Draco shrugged his furry shoulders, 'She never said. But in my opinion probably Raven?'

Sirius looked at his brother, 'Raven, really?'

Draco remembered Raven of old, a timid creature more wolf than any of her brothers and sisters. Secretive, withdrawn and lonely, a mere shadow on the earth, but with eyes like the midsummer sun. And there'd been shadows born into those as well, seeds of bitterness and hate. Yes, if any, Raven was the Shadow.

'Do you have any idea where he might be now?'

'She. And no. She disappeared with her brother Luath years ago. Miran, Chara and Vega haven't been seen either. The other four may be found anywhere. But Raven, she'll probably be in hiding, if she's still alive. Look in the forests is my best advice. The deeper the better.'

Sprite nodded his thanks and opened his wings. With a rush of air he was gone.

'Do you reckon he'll find her?' Sirius asked.

'I hope so, brother. I hope so.'

'What do you think he wants?'

'I don't know for certain but I have a hunch.'

Sirius' eyes were questioning in the darkness. Draco merely smiled, 'Give it a few months and keep your ears open. Then meet me at the Mountain.'