I own none of the original.

My grandparents – mostly Sarah – practically leap on Shay. I stay at the back of Haldis Tactical as Dad and the rest of the pack catches up with the new Guardian team. Jazz gets introduced by a proud Bryn and Ansel. I dread the inevitable moment when one of the Strikers asks where my mother is. Adne becomes very protective of Ren, who is, after all, named for her brother. I keep a wary eye on Brady's reaction to anything, more importantly to anything Ren does. If either of them tries anything…

"Where's Calla?"

The hope in Sabine's voice makes me wince. Dad turns away from the expectant faces; I walk over to his side. Not only do we have to tell them Mom has died, but we need to warn them that the Elemental Cross has (supposedly) gone missing. I clear my thoughts and focus on Dad, hoping he has the strength to handle this.

"She's dead," he chokes, his voice cracking with sorrow. Gasps of shock erupt around the room. Shay raises his voice to sound alpha-like above the noise, even with misery still edging it. "And I think the Netherworld is opening back up. The Cross is gone."

Tristan's eyes shadow. "It can't be."

"We're only just been saved," Sarah murmurs.

Adne shakes her head in disbelief. "I thought things were finally over." She leans against Connor, who has his eyes closed as if he can wish away things.

Sabine, already shaken by Calla's death, turns and buries her face in Ethan's neck. "I promise it'll be okay," he soothes, his gaze remaining dark and focused on us.

"What I don't get is how it's possible for two huge swords that can be touched by only Shay can go missing so fast," Ren chimes in, narrowing his eyes at me. "With us being able to shift almost immediately before," he growls.

Brady glares at Ren, keeping close to my other side as Shay turns a wearily cautious expression on me. "Do you think Aqua has anything to do with this?"

"Yeah, I do," he answers tersely. "I also think you put her up to this… traitor."

Nick, who I hadn't noticed before, steps forward to defend his brother. "Brady and Aqua – although I haven't known her long – would never betray their friends and family. Sorry, but your theory doesn't add up."

"It somewhat does," I admit reluctantly, feeling a weight suddenly appear on my back. I guess the swords decide when and where they want to be, I add silently.

"Don't they burn you?" Connor gasps, awakened from an alleged nightmare to find it was reality. "Only Shay can touch them."

I shake my head. "When I was howling farewell to Mom, I sensed these on my human back. Ever since, up until now, they've been hidden in whatever form I'm not in. Now they're here." I block emotion from my expression, not wanting to give anything away to misconception.

"Look at your pendant!" Sabine orders briskly. "It's glowing!"

Bowing my head, I find that she's right. A blue glow engulfs me. "The Elemental Cross must be destroyed, its hilts and blades returned to their origins and buried deep within the ground. No one must find them ever again, even a future Scion." I talk so formally it surprises even me.

"Very well," Anika replies. "You and Shay will obviously go to all the prior sites to restore balance. Just as Haldis was first twenty years ago, it shall be last to be hidden to keep the flow of power in check. It's a shame that Calla and Renier are no longer here; if we have to fight the Harbinger again, we will be short two of our best warriors."

"If we fight again, I'm avenging Ren's death!" Adne retorts.

Shay nods, suddenly battle-hungry and very, very powerfully strong. "I'm not letting Calla's death go unpunished."

The living Ren looks at me, using our wolf senses to talk silently. Be careful, Aqua. Going against me will not be the smartest choice. He turns away to listen to Adne and Connor's conversation about "avenging Ren." I ignore him.

Heat creeps through me. I lift the aquamarine gem up so that it catches the light. I clamp my jaws on a gasp when I see Mom – or, rather, her ghost. She points at Ren, and I turn my attention to him. A pale figure shadows him; suddenly I know who it is. Not all spirits vanish because some are reincarnated. Pieces of the old Ren had been joined with the soul of the new. Even the remnants of the old Ren's ghost hover about him, trying to guide him. I guess that Calla is now my own guide.

Her mouth moves, but no sound comes out. She rolls her eyes and switches to the wolf sense: Tell Shay I will always watch out for him. She blinks as if holding back tears. I love you and your father, Aqua. Stay safe. Then she disappears into thin air.

I blink to make sure I hadn't hallucinated. I can still see both Rens, so it isn't just a figure of imagination. Knowing I have to wait to pass along the message, I lift the collar of my shirt and slip the aqua underneath. All that power has to be kept safe and hidden, much like the Elemental Cross. I sigh and wait for something to happen other than conversation, preferably dismissal.

Brady brushes against me, following Nick out of the room. "Leave it to the adults," he whispers. "You need rest." He nods toward the door.

Trailing after them, I break off to head to my room. Nick starts yelling at Brady for something behind me, but I've already tuned out. Almost as soon as my head hits the pillow, sleep claims me.

A lot more action is coming in later chapters. Please tell me what you thought. Until next time.