Some angst up ahead. You have been warned (*maniacal laughter*). Fortunately, I have also put in some humor to offset the tears of mourning that is soon to come. You're welcome, and I regret nothing. Reviews are most welcome.

Chapter 6

That night Khan wakes up to see Little Wolf sitting up very slowly in her chair. He blinks sleepily and watches as she carefully lowers herself onto the floor, slips into her jacket and boots, and then sneaks soundlessly upstairs.

What was she up to? Just as quietly, Khan pulls on his own boots and coat and follows after her.

Like a shadow, she melts into the shade cast by the moon as she runs through the trees, leaving a very light trail of footprints that seem to shrink with each step that she takes. Eventually, after they had run a mile or so, she slows to a walk even though Khan can tell that she has yet to tire herself out.

Then, she sits immobile on a burned log and stares into a clearing. Her knees go up to her chest and she rest her chin lightly on top of her left knee as she stares in front of her. Khan squints to see what she's looking out but he can't make anything out through the trees. A twig snaps under his foot and he freezes.

"You don't run very fast." She says without ever looking back.

"Nor do you." Khan retorts before sitting beside her, his back ramrod straight. "What is this place?"

There are buildings here—all of them burned to a crisp. Intact skeletons of multiple humans rest in the ashes. Every time the wind blows, it yanks billows of soot into the uncaring night sky.

"It's the Village. And these are my people. The People." She glances at him, meets his gaze for a moment, before quickly looking away.

"What happened?" He has to know.

Something within him is craving the story—her story. Who, other than him, would do such a thing to a people? What reason could someone give for this? And…how had she-a child no older than five years old-escaped when everyone, evened seasoned hunters, had been caught unawares? The attack had clearly come from above: from ships of some sort. Anyone who had tried to escape, even young children, had been cut down instantly.

"The Invaders came," she whispers quietly.

Invaders? What invaders? And who in their right mind would bother invading this place? There was nothing-absolutely nothing!-of value here. No significant source of gold, gems, or ore! Any invasion would be a complete waste of time!

"Why?" He asked.

Little Wolf shrugged but didn't look at him: "I dont know; they didn't like us, I guess. I warned the other villages about the danger of the Invaders, but it didn't work," she started to swing her legs as the horrors of that night came back to her. "So, in the middle of the night, they came in their metal birds—their ships—and killed everyone."

"You weren't here." He states quietly. "If you had been, you would have perished with the rest."

"I was running away. Me and my mom both were." Her voice is small and choked with sadness. "I had my brother and the tools I'd need to survive…we made it all the way to the river."

The river was a mile behind them.

"And then?" he glanced at her and then back to the ghost town befor them.

"The sky lit on fire. Everyone was screaming. I runned back but I couldn't do anything. They were already dead by the time I got there. Then, I was all alone. Sharp Quill and some kids were doing a night hike—they lived. Some elders were away to different villages…they lived too but, they're old. They may not live long. Lots of 'em are sick bad."

"Was your mom in the village?"

"No. She's still missing."

"And…was she taken? By the Invaders, I mean." He almost doesn't want to know.

He can already hear the phantom screams of agony ripping through the ruins that used to be the girl's whole world. He could easily envision Little Wolf's panic and pain as she stumbled into the one place she could honestly call home…

"I don't know. We fell asleep and it was cold. When I woke up, it was still cold but she was gone. The trails in the forest had changed and I didn't recognize any of the People. Everything was different…but…a lot of people had died while we were away. A long time had passed. Now, everyone wants me and the others dead, but I don't know why."

"How much time passed while you and your mum were…away?"

Little Wolf shrugs: "Joooohn! I don't know my numbers or time words."

Khan sighs and inwardly face palms himself. Right. She can barely speak English—why would he expect her know her numbers?

The wind blows and Little Wolf shivers as it cuts cruelly through her thin jacket. Khan unzips his coat and pulls her to his chest before zipping it back up. She wriggles a little closer and sighs as their combined warmth sizzles comfortably through her bones. Khan rests his chin lightly upon her head and exhales.

It was hard for him to not be able to be with his people, but his had yet to be exterminated from existence. Even though it was unlikely that he'd ever see them again, there was still a possibility that he would. Little Wolf, however, was a member of a dying people...

…

"You're quiet." Little Wolf yawns. "Are you mad at me? Do you hate me now? Do you want me to be dead, too?"

"No." He stands slowly and is careful to hold her close to his chest as he walks lest he drop her on the ground and step on her and crush her frail bones beneath his heel. "No, I'm not." His voice comes out as a hoarse whisper.

"Are you sure?" She looks up at him uncertainly and, not for the first time, Khan finds himself wondering just what kind of life this five year old girl has led.

"Yes. I'm sure. I don't hate you, little one." He'd have laughed had the situation not been so morose.

"Promise?"

"I promise." He holds her a little closer to him and she sighs in relief before snuggling closer to his beating heart and wrapping her arms carefully around his neck. Minutes later, her breathing evens out and her warm breath dances across the skin on his sensitive throat as she falls asleep.

"G'night, weirdo." She murmurs before dropping into unconsciousness.

When they get back to the hut, Khan lays her gently on her chair and then pulls the quilt up to her shoulders. Shivering, she curls into a tight ball and wiggles even father beneath the warm blanket. Khan smirks in the darkness before wandering over to the couch, tugging off his coat and boots. Icy blue eyes glare up into nothingness.

He, too, soon allows himself to be embraced by the soothing arms of unconsciousness. His loud snores shake the room and snap Little Wolf out of her slumber. Swiftly, she snatches up a pillow from the floor and chucks it—hard—into his head. He jerks awake and falls to the floor with a loud thunk!

"Stop breathing so loud! Earth people are complaining about it!"

"Oh, shut up." He retorts as he clambers back into his make shift bed. Another pillow smacks him in the head.

"Go back to sleep! I'm tired!"

"Why don't you come over here and make me…!" Khan challenges.

"Kids," Sharp Quill stands on the staircase and glowers at each of them in turn. "I have enough drugs to make an elephant tipsy. If you two continue to argue, I will use them."

"Try it. I dare you." Khan growls.

The cane goes flying across the room and smacks him in the head. Before he can launch himself at Sharp Quill, she shoots a dart into his shoulder. His legs go weak and he collapses to the floor. Minutes later, his snoring begins.

"Great." Little Wolf complains. "Now he's breathing again!"

"Keep whining," Sharp Quill points the gun at her. "I've got a dart with your name on it."

Little Wolf ceases talking immediately and throws her arms up into the air in mock surrender. Chuckling, the old woman retrieves her cane and shuffles back upstairs to check once more on Roanoke and her pups. She cackles loudly.

"Ha, I've still got it!"