Yoko stood alone in forest on the outskirts of his territory. His eyes were closed; face tilted upwards to catch the beams of the full moon that shone done on him from above. The stars winked at him, as if mocking his loss. But even in his grieving state, he opened his eyes, hearing the sound of Amira's padded steps behind him.

"What?" He demanded impatiently.

"We'll get her back," Amira reassured gently, but sternly. "But she's a tough girl, she can take care of herself until we do."

"You don't understand do you!" Yoko rounded, his voice raising. "I promised her it would be ok! I told her I wouldn't let anything happen and now…now she's possessed by some ice dragon and in the clutches of the person I was supposed to be protecting her from!" Yoko whipped a tree in half with his rose whip in frustration. The oak fell back with a groan and snagged on the surrounding timbers. The leaves rustled with the foxes unbridled anger as he vented his fury on the innocent plant. Amira wisely waited him out, till his thorned whip curled around his feet, resting.

Yoko took deep breaths, trying to calm himself and regain his composure. Amira had never seen him like this before. The infamous thief was always so composed and sure of every move. Now he was lost and confused, a fox without his mate.

"Is everyone resting?" He asked with guilt, concerned about how hard he had pushed his men.

Amira nodded. "Hiei is delegating tasks. They will follow you to the ends of the earth, but you keep pushing them and they won't last much longer."

"I realize that." He sighed soulfully. "I'll repay them for their support once this is all over. But until she is back, I'm going to have to ask for a little more than 100 percent." He warned.

Amria cracked a smile and stepped toward him. "We'll give it."

Yoko turned to face her. "Thank you." And with that he walked back to his men. Amira watched him go, the faint scent of roses still lingering from his presence. He was going to be ok, and she knew that if anyone could lead a successful rescue mission. It was him.

Hiei looked up as their leader emerged a while later from the forest. He seemed to have calm down since he had stormed off, and hopefully was thinking clearer as well. Yoko gave Hiei a nod of thanks to which Hiei simply shrugged it off. It was his job after all.

"What is the fastest way to that fox's hideout!" Sarkan demanded to know of his subordinates.

They had decided to stop before actually reaching the closest Raider camp, even though it wouldn't have taken much longer. Sarkan had his troops set up their tents and was having a discussion with Prakash about their new plan to test out Satira's abilities. The cat was sitting elegantly on her kneeses, resting on a cushion in Sarkan's tent, eyes staring straight forward.

Since the glacieragon had merged with her, she hadn't spoken more than two words. She merely followed her 'master' and had the readiness to attack like a coiled spring.

Prakash was quick to roll out a map of the surrounded territory into a collapsible wooden desk they used while traveling.

"I think that if we take this secret path through the woods, without stopping, we might be able to circumvent them and beat them there."

"But I want to be SURE that we beat them there." Sarkan insisted, pounded his fist on the table.

Prakash let go of the map as it rolled up on itself and he straightened up.

"We would be cutting it close." He admitted slowly. Sarkan's face darkened with a scowl.

"I don't want him showing up and ruining my fun."

Prakash nodded. "Then a diversion?"

Sarkan's scowl disappeared into a sadistic smirk. "Yes, a diversion is a perfect idea. Something to keep them busy!"