I used two songs here. Breathe (2 AM) by Anna Nalick and You Are Loved (Don't Give Up) by Josh Groban.
Sora was the first to hear the howling of the wolves in the distance. They had landed about an hour ago and this was the first signs of life they had heard. They hadn't seen anything but plants either.
"It sounds like some kind of wolf." Riku said "but it sounded a bit different from normal wolves. Like bigger from the sounds of them."
"Well, then we best be on our guard." Leon said, calling forth his Key Blade. "Because we don't know this world at all we don't know if the wolves are friendly or not."
Everyone followed suit calling their Key Blades. Then they continued traveling in the trees near a cliff. I continued running but the howling started up again but this time they were a lot closer and closing in on me and my little ones. I ran hard but I was not much of a challenge for them especially not against him. They were catching up on me too quickly. I ran harder but it was no use. I finally skidded to a stop. I was at a dead end. Ahead of me was a cliff and it surrounded me on three sides and the only way out was the way I had come in but that was all ready blocked by them. In desperation I frantically searched for a place for my children and myself to hide. I saw a small crevice to my right and I slipped into it my children following me. I said each of their names to make sure none of them had fallen behind as we had run from the danger. The last thing I need was one of my cubs to fall behind and be captured because they knew I'd come for them. They liked to use a bait tactic as we called it.
They were all there with me and that was good but then I turned my thoughts to the werewolves. The one I was terrified of most was Dragon and it was no secret to him. I finally concentrated on my scar that was on my right arm in a straight line from the middle of my hand to the middle of my forearm. It was burning like heck right now but I usually ignored it because it was always hurting a little bit. He was so close to me now that it felt like it was on fire. I stood in the crevice with my little ones hoping beyond hope he wouldn't find us but he could feel when I was near like my scar burned when he was close and he felt a scar on his arm exactly like mine burn. All was quiet now but I knew he was listening, waiting for me to reappear.
"I know you're here, my Darling, I can smell your sweet scent all around. My scar is calling me to your side." He called out to me. "Come out from hiding, my Darling. You should know that there is no need for you to be so afraid of me. Though I know you believe there is a reason for you to fear me but I'm your Alpha. As your Alpha I could never harm you just as you can never harm me."
I shivered. Afraid of him was the understatement of the year. I was terrified of him, so scared that I shivered violently with him so close to me. Besides he wasn't my Alpha that was Shadow.
Darkness moved toward the opening of the crevice we had taken refuge in. I moved my one of my bare feet in front of him. He looked up at me asking me silently to go out and face Dragon for me. I shook my head saying No, you aren't strong enough to fight him Darkness. He knew what I was saying.
He pouted for a minute then went to sit with his brothers and sisters behind me and protect them if necessary. I had to keep them all safe from Dragon. What kind of mother would I be if I couldn't protect them from their own birth father?
Silence ensued. I looked at my children gave them reassuring smile but I knew Dragon wouldn't give up until he found me. Suddenly as if triggered by that thought I felt the hand grasp my wrist. I was pulled out of the crevice so violently and I screamed. I tried to summon my sword to defend myself but couldn't. Dragon and so much control over me and it made things difficult for me when I had to face him alone especially in defense of my children which thankfully he had seen or noticed them yet.
"Be quiet, my Seriana." Dragon cooed as he pulled me close to his body. He was in his human form and not his wolf form which was good. "You don't want the other wolf in your life to find us this time do you?"
"Actually that is exactly what I want." I said trying to push him away but it wasn't doing any good. He was too strong for me and even my magic was useless against him because of my scar. I was connected to him. My powers couldn't hurt him because the scar only connected to him but since Shadow had marked me I couldn't be a member of his pack. I hated him since he had tried to force me into his pack against my will.
"But Seriana, you know I love you. Surely you must remember that. I've told you that many times, that I care for you more than anything else in this world." He then kissed me hard angrily. I turned my head away breaking the kiss hating every minute he held me tightly to him so I couldn't escape his grasp though I wanted to with every fiber of my being.
"Darling, don't be that way now, please. Let me love you." He said turning my face back to his and while he held it in place kissed me hard still angrily and I swear he was going to bruise my lips if he kept kissing me like this for very much longer.
Suddenly surprisingly, he let go of me. I nearly fell over since I was feeling like the whole world was crashing down on me at that moment.
I looked to see why he had let me go in time to see Darkness dart back into the crevice before Dragon saw him as well. Darkness had bitten Dragon in the back of his leg to get him to let go of me and stop kissing me. I was grateful to my little boy for helping me but I also hoped Dragon wouldn't guess what had happened for his sake, no such luck, besides it didn't take a genius to figure t out.
"Ah, I see you have our children with you." He said and moved toward the crevice. He had figured it out and I could let him near them.
"No!" I shouted and moved forward and blocked his way as fast as I could before he could get to them and the crevice they were in. "Leave my children alone!"
"Darling, you know it isn't just your children, it is our children." He said pulling me close again. "I'm their father, and you're their mother. They have every right to know me as their birth father." He then threw me aside. I fell to the ground hard but adrenalin was pumping into my system because my little ones were in danger and I just had to do everything in my power to protect them. I couldn't let anything happen to them because when they were born I made a promise to always protect them and to make absolutely sure that I remembered that I named one of the girls Promise. "Listen. Did you hear that?" Sora asked the others.
They heard shouting.
Yuiffie nodded, "It sounds like someone is in trouble and needs our help."
The others agreed and they ran to the cliff's edge where they had heard the shouting and saw Dragon and me below them.
I jumped up from where I had fallen and flew toward Dragon again. "Don't touch them!" I shouted. He turned and pushed me to the ground again but I wasn't giving up. I had to protect my little children so he couldn't get to them.
He reached into the crevice and suddenly pulled his hand out again. "Ouch, oh, that wretched boy will regret biting me a second time."
"Leave them alone!" I ran toward him again.
He grabbed my wrists and said. "Fine then, you can call them out of that crevice. They'll listen to you and not me. Call them out, Seriana."
"Never, I'll never let you hurt them ever," I said, "and I'll never call them out of there! Darkness bites you because he doesn't want you to hurt any of them or me for that matter!"
He released one of my arms and slapped me hard but he was holding my other arm so I didn't fall over. "Call them out now!"
"No!" I refused but I knew if he kept hurting me then my children would come to defend me but what could sixteen small Werewolf cubs do against a full grown Demon Werewolf/Dragon? Nothing that was the reason I had to do everything in my power to protect them but they would do everything they could to protect me as well.
He hit me a second time and Sora threw himself off the cliff edge and landing behind us. Dragon let go of my wrists after throwing me aside again and faced Sora. When he saw who was facing him he laughed. He didn't recognize the Key Blade. I didn't either, of course we'd never see a Key Blade before. None of us wielded a Key Blade. I was suddenly scared for Sora. He didn't realize he was facing a Werewolf. Not just any Werewolf but a Demon Werewolf/Dragon. A Werewolf with Demon or Dragon blood was more powerful them a regular Werewolf. Dragon was about to transform to his wolf form and kill him so I had to do something to get his attention focused back on me and fast before he killed Sora. One question that I had to answer: what can I do to get his attention focused back on me and not on that boy?
"Darkness, Harmony," He whirled and looked at me but I was regretting this but it was only thing I could think of that could save Sora. "Heart, Spring, Autumn, Freedom, Joy, Honor, Beauty, Promise, Courage, Star, Love, Patience, Wildflower, Melody!"
Most of them stood between me and Dragon now, "You wanted to see them now you have, go away and leave us alone." I said quietly knowing that wasn't going to happen at all. He had got what he wanted me to do now he would try and take us.
"Not quite so, Darling Seriana. You know I just didn't want to see them. I want you and them to come with me willingly this time, as I always wanted but you keep denying me the pleasure." He moved toward me.
Sora attacked him seeing the danger my children and I was in. Suddenly someone grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and swiftly threw him back away from Dragon. "How many times have I told you to leave Seriana and her children alone?" Sora looked up to see a man wearing black clothing like Dragon but was standing between Dragon and him. I moved away from them toward the only way in or out of this area.
Suddenly the two men transformed into gigantic wolves, equally matched in almost every way.
"Shadow, look out!" I shouted as several werewolves ran into the area fighting other werewolves.
I moved directly toward Sora close to the cliff wall surrounding us with my children. "Don't move unless you're going to get killed." I quickly instructed.
"But..." Sora said.
"Look, I'm going to help you stay alive in this kind of a situation so don't argue with me!" I pulled Sora suddenly forward as Dragon hit the wall he had been standing in front of seconds before. "Do as I say! Please don't argue with me! I've seen enough death in my life as it is but if I can help keep you alive then I will! What were you thinking trying to kill Dragon with a fancy looking sword?" He didn't answer because we were moving all over the place trying to stay out of the way.
Finally half of the Werewolves fled and the others started to howl in celebration. Shadow transformed into the man again and turned to me.
"Shadow," I ran to him and hugged him hard in gratefulness for saving me and my children. "You came to save me and my children once again. I knew you would come. Thank you so much. I could never thank you enough."
"Of course my Queen, I couldn't let you face Dragon all alone. It's my duty to protect you." He said hugging me back though it was very awkward to him.
I pulled back and said. "Thank you, you saved us once more as you always do almost every other day."
He shrugged, "It normal and all in a day's work."
I giggled and said. "Such is the life of a guardian, to save us from real or imagined threats as the oath states."
"Who's the fruitcake that thought he could defeat Dragon?" Shadow motioned toward Sora.
"You know that's a good question. I haven't asked him yet." I turned to Sora and said "What is your name?"
"His name is Sora." Riku yelled as his friends joined him.
"Who are all of you?" I asked surprised.
They all introduced themselves.
"Seriana, Hootaru is waiting for you." Shadow said "Go to my Angel and you will be safe as she takes you back to the Elvin Palace. Don't leave again. You know it's dangerous for you or your sisters to be out after dark alone."
"I'm sorry Shadow, I lost track of time." I said and hurried out with my children following closely on my heels I stopped and turned. "And Shadow thanks again for saving my life and the lives of my children. We can always count on you to be faithful and help us. You will always have my trust and I'm sure my sisters feel the same way."
Shadow nodded and then said, "By the way Seriana, Tara beat you to it. She told me that year's ago when we were first starting out before the war."
"Well it's as true now as it was then." I smiled at him and turned to leave.
Shadow turned to the strangers after my departure. "Okay, who are you and what are you doing here? You obviously aren't from around here. Otherwise you would have stayed out of a Werewolves way unless you are one and can fight them."
Shadow lead Sora and company to the Elvin Palace after he was satisfied with their story. As he entered through the gates a women was sitting on the steps. It looked like Seriana at first glance but she was wearing all pure white and had fewer children with her. She got up and flew into Shadow's arms.
"Angel." He hugged the slender women gently.
"Shadow, I'm glad you are all right." She said in a soft voice.
"Where is Seriana?" He asked her.
"Down in her forest with her children and Forest." She said quietly and her voice had the effect of comfort, love, and it was very motherly. Sora felt himself relax instantly as the sound of it.
She looked at them with beautiful amber eyes. "Welcome, Key Blade Masters to the Seven Plains."
"How do you know us?" Riku asked.
"I am the Anubi's child, Hootaru." She said surprising Sora. This was the women they two Anubi's had mentioned."Just please, don't run off like that again Seriana. No matter how many times you've done it and have been safe I'll always worry about you especially when darkness fell and you still hadn't returned here. I wasn't alone in my worry either." Forest held me against him in the serenity of the Glass Forest that was built beneath the Elvin palace. "Seriana all of us were worried sick about you. Even your three sisters were and that is saying something, as you well know."
"I was okay until night started to fall. Then Dragon found me while I was coming back." I said as he held me against him in the Glass Forest.
After a small silence I started to sing softly.
"2 AM, and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake.
Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?
I don't love him, winter just wasn't my season.
Yeah, we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes.
Like they have any right at all to criticize,
Hypocrites, you're all here for the very same reason.
'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable.
And lifes like an hourglass, glued to the table.
No one can find the rewind button, girl.
So cradle your head in your hands.
And breathe, just breathe.
Oh breathe, just breathe.
May, he turned 21, on the base at the town Bliss.
Just a day, he said down to the flask in his fist,
ain't been sober, since maybe October of last year.
Here in town you can tell he's been down for a while.
But, my goodness, it's so beautiful when the boy smiles.
She wants to hold him, maybe I'll just sing about it.
'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable.
And lifes like an hourglass, glued to the table.
No one can find the rewind button, boys.
So cradle your head in your hands.
And breathe, just breathe.
Oh breathe, just breathe.
There's a light at each end of this tunnel.
You shout 'cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out.
And these mistakes you've made, you'll just make them again,
if you only try turning around.
2 AM and I'm still awake, writing a song.
If I get it all down on paper, it's no longer inside of me.
Threatening the life it belongs to.
And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd.
'Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud.
And I know that they'll use them, however they want to.
But you can't jump the track; we're like cars on a cable.
And lifes like an hourglass, glued to the table.
No one can find the rewind button now.
Sing it if you understand.
And breathe, just breathe.
Whoa breathe, just breathe.
Oh breathe, just breathe.
Oh breathe, just breathe."
Forest kissed my forehead and held both of my hands in his as we moved out of my Glass Forest upstairs toward the bedrooms. We were both tired and my children were too. They moved on ahead toward my room leaving Forest and I blissfully alone.
"Next time you need to run somewhere to be alone Seriana. Run to the Glass Forest because no one but Elves and those you wish can enter." he said gently. "It's the safest place you can go to."
"I'm sorry I worried everyone." I said leaning against him. "I just had to get away for it all. I felt trapped and everything was falling on me and you know how I fell when that starts to happen. I can't take it."
"I know but I want you to be safe." Forest said as we stopped "I'll always worry about you. It's my job now as a guardian."
The hallways of the Elvin palace were empty since it was night most of the people who lived or worked at the palace were either sleeping or had gone home.
Forest and I were alone, a rare blessing to us and our lovers. Slowly, gently, there in the hall we began to dance to a silent music only we could hear. Finally he began to sing softly in my ear. As we danced he pulled me close gently so I would feel alone.
"Don't give up.
It's just the weight of the world.
When your heart's heavy,
I, I will lift it for you.
Don't give up,
because you want to be heard.
If silence keeps you,
I, I will break it for you.
Everybody wants to be understood.
Well I can hear you.
Everybody wants to be loved.
Don't give up,
because you are loved.
Don't give up.
It's just the hurt that you hide,
when you're lost inside.
I, I will be there to find you.
Don't give up.
Because you want to burn bright,
if darkness blinds you.
I, I will shine to guide you.
Everybody wants to be understood.
Well I can hear you.
Everybody wants to be loved.
Don't give up,
because you are loved.
You are loved.
Don't give up.
Every one needs to be heard.
You are loved."
Then he kissed me gently. I ran my fingers through his hair. Oh how I loved him ever since the moment he first came to me and took the oath to become my guardian.