Author's Note: There are a few references in this chapter to events that have happened in Kaze's past. They're meant to be ambiguous, since those events are the subject of another story. They're also meant to be somewhat confusing, since Kaze is hardly completely lucid here, so if you don't know what she's talking about, that was the intention. ;)

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Part II

Chapter One

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Heavy footsteps struck the wooden floor of the tavern in slow, measured beats. They paused at a table in the corner.

A chair scooted hastily backwards as the occupant rose. "Did you…?"

"It is finished."

"…My men, they have given me reports of not just one, but several bodies of werewolves just outside town-"

"I told you. It is finished." Indeed, there was not a single living werewolf within a ten-mile radius of the town. Izaak had made sure of that.

"Then…" The mayor glanced questioningly over Izaak's shoulder and back to his face. Taking in the stony expression that replaced once smiling eyes, the man sighed in understanding. "I'm sorry-"

"Just hand over the money."

Wordlessly, he did just that. "If there's anything…"

Izaak pivoted on his heel and strode out of the building. A small figure looked up from cleaning tables in time to see him leave. "Sir! Wait!" and darted after the demon-hunter.

Izaak stopped just outside the door, back stiff. Turning, he regarded the boy.

"Did you find out anything? Did you find my brother?" he asked, anxiously.

A shadow passed over Izaak's eyes. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a circular, brassy object – the boy's compass. Kaze had given it to him before they started their search. He dropped it into the boy's hand.

"No. We found nothing." The demon-hunter turned away. "I'm sorry."

"But…" The boy, confused, looked back up at him. Changing the subject, he asked, "Where's your friend?"

Izaak bowed his head, breathing out a heavy sigh. Then he straightened and left, with an equally heavy heart.

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It was morning now, the sun just peeking over the horizon. The blizzard continued, but its fury was slowly abating. The wind still howled, though, frigid, whipping the fallen snow into peaked drifts, swirling in unpredictable currents at the base of a tall, jagged precipice so high, it vanished into the distance and blowing snow.

A sound came from one of these drifts, and it shifted, snow skittering down from the top. A dark figure clawed its way free, and with great difficulty, crawled out and tumbled down the side, laying in an exhausted heap at the bottom. It cracked one golden eye open and gazed up into the sky, staring at the blinding white.

Kaze searched her memory, piecing the fragments together. Hateful green eyes. Flawless silver-white fur. Shining razor claws, slashing…always seeking to rip and tear and slice. The werewolf lunging at her. Her driving a dagger…Izaak's…into its belly as it struck. Tumbling through the air. A frantic mid-air duel as the foes tried to finish each other off. Stabbing the beast several times. Then bumping, jolting, breaking…spinning…and finally nothing.

So…it was dead, right? It had to be dead…nothing could survive that. But…she was alive…? How? So…was it dead, then, or not? She groaned in confusion.

It was cold. So cold.

Am I dead? Taking stock of the situation, she examined what she could feel of her injuries. Broken ribs…broken leg…an arm…that should definitely move when she thought at it, but didn't…and countless gashes. She started in horror. Had she been bitten? She didn't feel different. Didn't feel like a werewolf. But what did one feel like, anyway? She considered for a moment, then sighed, her momentary fear draining away into the surrounding cold. Oh well. Just need a potion…Now where was that? Oh yes! Her pack…which was where, now? She fought the desire to space out. Ahh…it was on her back. Ha! Which she couldn't reach, as she couldn't move her arm.

I am dead, she thought, was dead and fretting over her injuries. Did dead people do that? She thought that she distinctly remembered being undead once…but it was hazy and she knew she didn't worry about injuries at the time. Because if you're dead it doesn't matter…was it the same if you were undead? In any case, she told herself, I should really quit worrying.

Just as she was thinking about getting around to really spacing out this time…a noise she half heard and half imagined that she imagined shook her (closer) to her senses. With a faint concern that she may not have finished off the monster after all, she made an effort and rolled over, squinting against the sudden, blinding light filling her vision.

Through the ground blizzard, the rising sun blazed. Though its shape could not be discerned, brilliant, golden light shone through the blowing snow, multiplied by the thousands of tiny ice crystals scattering its radiance, and dazzling her eyes with its intensity.

At the top of a low drift in front of her appeared the silhouette of a large wolf, as tall as a small horse, haloed in the golden brilliance. The edges of its fur turned molten in the fiery light.

An angel…I am dead. She had an angel wolf watching over her. This was the afterlife, after all, she realized. Her wolf was an angel…or her angel was a wolf, whichever. (She noted with relief that it was not the monster from before…that would have been a tad awkward.) Was it possible? Apparently.

Her eyes adjusted slightly to the intense glow. She picked out some details…pure white fur, regal bearing, and piercing blue eyes that regarded her impassively.

The wolf – a female – twitched her nose and lowered her head. You have fought the daiwolf.

"…Daiwolf?" Kaze choked out. "I-"

He is not dead.

Kaze felt her blood run cold. "What!? But he has to be dead! After all that…"

You think, as humans, your teeth and your claws could end him? One who has the blood of ancients in his veins and the boundless power of the stars in his blood?

Despair flooded her heart. "…He has to be… What is he that he could still live?"

He is the daiwolf. There is no other. He is the Fallen One. The one I have followed since the dawn of time.

Kaze stared, failing to comprehend.

She flicked an ear. He was once one of us…though we call ourselves by terms you do not understand, humans may know us as the Winter Wolves. Long ago we roamed this land…our homeland a land of endless, driven snow, pitch black skies, and countless, sparkling stars. Shortly after our awakening, we witnessed the birth of the dancing sky fire, the lights from the north. We journeyed far before you learned the need to live by…fire. She twitched her head at this word.

Long ago, but not early in our history, a great battle came to us. It was fought well; I was there. But our great strength, our speed and great skill, were not enough. And we were failing.

But there was one among us. He saw our plight and he saw our need. So he made a great journey to bargain with the one we speak of no longer. And he came back…changed.

In some distant corner of her mind, Kaze realized that the wolf was communicating with her in some way other than speech or telepathy. She didn't understand how this was possible, yet the wolf's meaning, intentions, and emotions were somehow conveyed as clearly to her as if she was reading a book. She had a dim feeling that this should cause her some concern, and yet could not figure out why that should be the case. The reason was almost there, pressing at the back of her mind, but she swatted it away irritably, trying to focus on the conversation.

His form was like ours, but different. This form, he said, held much power. And indeed, his strength was greater than our strength, his speed greater than our speed, and his cunning…greater, too. But he was distant, aware of his sacrifice, and the great burden placed upon him.

There were those of us who doubted…but he became General and led our forces to victory. There was not a single battle that he commanded that was lost. The Enemy was vanquished.

But at such a cost. Celebrated once, he was shunned over time. Too different…strange…untrustworthy… Her fur bristled and she bared her teeth. They turned him away. They, whose lives he saved, they who he sacrificed much for…so much. They were not worthy.

I followed him. I vowed to see him to his end. Even if it took eternity.

And indeed, he did change. Slowly, but inevitably. Like a great ice sheet does when cast adrift, and erodes over time and the pounding of merciless waves. But the change was not his doing. It was theirs.

He is the Fallen One.

Kaze pondered this information. She felt sympathy for the great beast. But…she couldn't allow him to continue his rampage. If only she could get into her pack!

She looked up, startled. The wolf was right there, nose-to-nose with her. Kaze could feel its icy breath. It sniffed, glanced at the gashes on her arm.

You are the same as him, now.

"…W-what!?" She could feel her heart pounding.

You bear the same curse. I will not allow you to wreck the same destruction.

At those ominous words, Kaze whipped out a dagger with her good hand and pressed it against the wolf's throat. "Angel or not, I will kill you," she snarled, despite the stunned dismay clouding her heart at the news. No…not again!

The wolf blinked in surprise. You wish this curse upon yourself? Do you not desire to end yourself, now, so that you do not suffer the same fate? I have both the opportunity and the obligation to prevent the birth of another…monster.

"Ha!" She spat out, with difficulty. "What curse is there that could concern me? I have survived one before and broken it. I will do the same again," she vowed. "Besides, if you're so worried about another monster, why don't you take care of the one already roaming around?" She demanded.

The wolf considered. Do you think that I am capable of such a feat? Do you think that I can match the General?

Kaze hesitated.

He is a force beyond my reckoning. I cannot stop him. The wolf answered for her.

"Fine. Then I will stop him. And I will break the curse."

Very well. The wolf acknowledged. She turned and walked away. Pausing at the top of the drift, she glanced back. May you be fortunate to find acceptance, then, with the creatures whose appearance you will take. For you will no longer find it among your own kind.

And she disappeared into the radiance.

Kaze blinked, slowly lowering the dagger, wondering if it had all been a dream.

Whatever the case, she was filled with a new, fierce determination to get up and start moving, to finish off the nemesis who had somehow survived (where did he go…?)…and to find a cure. She struggled to stand, but fell back into the snow, groaning, her injuries starting to get to her. Okay, so she would get up…slowly. In just a minute, she thought, as the world faded into darkness. Her last coherent thought was, Izaak's going to be so ticked off that the thing's still alive…

* * * * *

Indeed, "ticked off" was an understatement. A cold fury settled itself upon his heart as he forcibly quelled the upsurge of unreasoning hatred, frustration, and grief.

"What. Did. You. Say?" He turned upon his unlucky informant, eyes flashing.

The poor man shrank under his withering glare. "Th-there's been a great white beast sighted…in the mountains…a little over a day's journey from here."

Izaak closed his eyes and sighed, struggling to get his anger under control. Crumpling the report in his grasp, he started back toward the village. Rummaging around in a pocket, he pulled out a shiny object, handing it to the messenger.

"Run back to the village. Confiscate whatever silver items you people own and have 'em melted down. I want as many of those," he gestured to the small object, "made as possible." He cast a sharp look at the man. "Pure silver, mind you, none of that silver-coated junk."

The man glanced at the item he held. A large, silver bullet. "All of the silver…?"

"Yes. All of it."

"I don't think the mayor will be too pleased…"

"That's too bad." Izaak smirked, darkly. "It's written in the contract."

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to be continued…