The silver fox stalked around in the moonlight forest. His fists were balled, and his mouth was beginning to get a permanent crease that shaped his expression into an angry frown. His silver ears lay flat against his silver hair and his tail lashed angrily from side to side. He hated having his authority challenged. And yet Amira had been right in her assessment of the rest the team needed. He closed his eyes, seeking some kind of solace for the pain in his heart. Satira was still apart from him, and he felt responsible. He should have been able to protect her. He should have been able to stop that thing from possessing her. He should have fulfilled the promise he made her. He should have done a lot of things.

His shoulders sagged and he opened his eyes. Nothing. Empty woods that thrummed with the hum of cicadas and chirping of crickets. He moved forward, his thieving instincts taking over so he didn't make a sound through the forest. An owl watched him pass and a small raccoon darted out in front of him. He ignored both. A stream cut through the forest floor and Yoko bent down near the waters edge. Moonlight allowed him a glimpse of his reflection and he saw the dirt and dried blood from the numerous battles that caked his face. He cupped his hands together and washed, the cold water a wake up call to his senses.

He looked once again at his reflection as the ripples in the water ebbed away. A saddened thief stared back at him. A broken hearted man. His face hardened in determination. He would NOT let Sarkan win. The Raider had gone too far and Yoko would not lose her. A new vigor swelled in his chest; he could still win this. And it would take the old Yoko to do it. Standing up, he began to survey the flora around him. A patch of poppies bobbed in the wind to his right, and he recalled seeing some chamomile on his walk to the river. He grabbed the poppies. They would help in pain relief. He was sore from their stringent journey, and knew the others were as well. The chamomile would act as a calming agent to soothe their nerves. He pulled a pouch attached to his waist and surveyed his seeds. Comfrey, would help prevent infections and with broken bones. Hawthorn would amplify the chamomile. That and a couple other things would boost his thieves enough till they reached the hideout. Once there, they could regroup. He smiled to himself. He would get her back in no time.

A rustle in the brush to his left snapped him back to defense mode. His rose whip was instantaneously ready, and he stood his ground, ready for what he assumed was another Sarkan attack.

A haggard looking tiger demon stumbled out of the thicket. White with black striped ears and tail, brown hair, and those emerald eyes he could get lost in for days. "Satira!" His voice was hoarse in shock.

"Yoko." She gasped, falling forward weakly. Yoko shot forward to catch her, as she fell against his chest. He pulled her toward him tightly, refusing to ever let go.

"I found you." She whispered as he cradled her in his arms. He carried her silently to the river and gently carried water to her parched lips.

"How did you get here?" He wanted to know earnestly. "What about that thing that took over you? Where is Sarkan?" His mind whirled, wanting to know how she had gotten there. Especially without his notice.

"Ever since that glacieragon came into me. I fought with it. I finally won and returned to normal. Sarkan thought I was still under control so I was able to get away without his notice." She drank thirstily as Yoko continued to help her drink. She paused long enough to swallow the handful of water he offered before finishing her sentence. "I followed your scent." She smiled weakly. "You smell like roses."

He smiled gently at her assessment of his scent. Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead. "So do you." He told her softly.

"Because of you." She replied, weakly touching his cheek. Yoko gently took her hand and pulled her closer to him.

"I'm so glad you're here." He said softly, his lips close to her face. "So you can tell me WHERE SHE IS!" His eyes suddenly sparked with anger as he roughly twisted the hand he was holding behind her back. He shoved her against the ground, pinning her as she screamed in surprise. His vines bound her legs and thighs tightly; he pulled her to a sitting position, fastening her arms firmly to her body. She struggled against her sudden imprisonment, making little kitten like mewls of pain. Yoko seized her by her collar, yanking her toward him so she could see the enraged fire in his eyes. "WHERE IS MY MATE!"