I just can't stay away. I wasn't too happy with my last chapter, because I felt like it held mostly dialogue. Dialogue is important, however, and re-reading it helped me to realize it wasn't as bad as I expected. Your reviews have helped me to believe in myself as I get back into writing, so thank you so very much! It's hard when you take a break from it and suddenly start up again.

Well, here come the next chapters! I am going to try to write for Untouchable and To Bare Witness after this chapter is up-dated. If I'm successful, I will have more than one up-date ready for you all today. Enjoy the chapter, and please continue to give your positive feedback. I love hearing from you.

I do not own Sailor Moon.

P.S. Ohmigosh, long chapter! Enjoy!

Wolf Wind

Ch. 7

It was as if speaking the words aloud made them all the more true. Throat constricting, nausea roiling in her gut, Serenity forced the bile gathering in her mouth back down the way it had come and tried her best to shut out everything around her. She didn't want their pity. She didn't want to see the look in any of the Five's eyes. She didn't want to see the pain or horror or shock she knew would be in her brother's gaze.

Most of all, she didn't want to feel what her new alpha was forcing her to feel.

His touch. Warmth. Comfort. A deep, aching sympathy.

Magic. It spread and wound through her, and Serenity tried to force out the feeling. She didn't want to relax, or feel at peace. Not while knowing little Sammy had died and would never experience the wonderful things Serenity was only now beginning to realize the world had to offer.

Endymion wouldn't let her push the good feelings away, however. His hands tightened over her form, and she found she was surrounded by his scent. A calm, constant thrum penetrated the ringing in her ears and she focused on it. Taking careful breaths, Serenity dazedly realized what the sound was: her alpha's heartbeat.

She was in her Alpha's arms.

A keening cry escaped her. Anguish that she was showing vulnerability. Anger that he thought she needed this. Bitterness when she realized he was right. Anxiety when a rough howl rent the air, and a shiver raked her form from head to toe.

Kunzite. Howling his own agonized cry at the news she just shared.

Strong arms pulled her closer to that consistent thrumming sound, and Serenity for once acknowledged that she would accept what this Alpha was offering, and buried her head into his chest. She tried to curl into Endymion's broad chest, forming a tight ball so she could blot out the continuing howls of agony rent from Kunzite's throat. More howls lifted into the air as first Nephrite, then Jedite and Zoicite offered their own mournful voices to Serenity's blood brother's.

A warm nose tentatively brushed behind Serenity's ear, hot breath fanning along the side of her neck. The touch alone caused the shivers raking her petite form to still as something inside Serenity stilled.

Waiting. Watchful.

Hopeful.

She grit her teeth. She didn't want her inner Wolf to be watchful and hopeful. She just wanted this small bit of comfort until she felt strong again.

Something sank in her gut. The realization that she trusted this Alpha brought more bile to her mouth. She bared her neck to him without realizing. Suddenly Serenity felt the urge to cry for a different reason entirely. She was losing her grip on her own sanity. Every instinct that got her to where she was today seemed to flutter away as if buffeted by a breeze.

This wasn't right. She didn't know him.

Body tensing, every nerve ending in her small frame buzzed with nervous energy. She felt Endymion tense around her, and wondered what he would do. Her trembling started up again. Her lungs stuttered as she attempted to breathe in air. The howls had died down, and now the small grove had grown silent.

Expectant.

As is waiting.

A soft sigh settled over Serenity's ear, and then Endymion released her. When he set her free she shifted a good foot away from him so he couldn't easily touch her again. Ignoring her damp cheeks—if she ignored them maybe the males would, too—Serenity hunched her shoulders protectively as she waited for someone else to break the stifling silence.

She had gotten along on her own for so long it didn't feel right depending on others for support. Now, without Sammy to protect and focus all her energy on, she was left more bereft than ever. Taking care of herself was so much different than taking care of her adopted baby brother. It was harder. She had to be selfless for so long, putting Sammy's needs before her own, that she didn't know how to go about worrying about herself again.

In the end, she was the one to break the silence. Maybe it was what they had all been waiting for.

"I tried to save him."

Her voice broke, and she had to take a deep breath before she could continue. She couldn't look at any of them as she said these next words. So she stared at the forest floor at the center of their make-shift circle instead.

"We wandered from territory to territory, never staying in one place long. Wherever the pack moved, the water and vegetation and game became less and less. It became so bad that the Hunt took an entire day, and even then that which was hunted wasn't enough to sustain what was left of our dwindled pack."

Her throat felt tight. She tried to work past it.

No one interrupted her.

"Diamond was an Alpha-"

She stopped. It was too painful and raw, but she knew she had to go on.

"Diamond was an Alpha who did little, but demanded much. He wouldn't hunt. He said if any threat came at us he needed to be ready for it, and not winded by a hunt right before battle." Serenity's lip curled in disgust at the memory of it, and a small snarl escaped her. "Not that he ever had to defend the territory. He was lazy. When he realized the hunts were taking longer and longer, he demanded the others do it. They aren't well-trained in stealth, though. If I hadn't shouldered the task of bringing in the hunt, the pack would have starved."

Shaking her head, Serenity finally found she had control over her voice and nerves, and guardedly lifted her gaze to the watching Five around her.

She continued.

"Sammy was the only pup in the pack. He needed more food and water than the others. He was a growing boy!" Anger. Fresh, hot anger seeped through her, and Serenity had to tamp it down. She didn't need to defend Sammy to this group. They knew the value of a pup, unlike her old pack.

There was a bitter and vile taste on her tongue as she said, "Diamond kept himself fit and strong by demanding he ate first." She wouldn't tell them how he had taunted her with his eyes, day after day as he sat gorging himself. He would invite her to eat her fill at his side, as his Mate. His eyes would mock her, lips smacking in delight as the remaining members of his pack whined and cried and waited for their turns, when he would permit them to fall upon the carcass like raving animals. They would fight over even the smallest morsel. More often than not, blood would be spilled, which is why Serenity would hold her brother back until the last possible moment before they would take their turn.

When it was safe.

For Sammy.

A Brown pup within a pack of White wolves.

Oftentimes, when she and Sammy finally made their way to the carcass, there would be nothing left.

"Pups ate last," She said instead, her tone emotionless. She had felt such strong feelings over that fact for so many years that she found she could no longer bring such anger or vehemence back to the fore. "I started traveling father, looking for bigger game, but then I had to trek back the way I had come dragging the excess weight and fighting off unwanted predators. I finally learned to take down small game and hide it so Sammy could eat in secret."

Shaking her head, more hot tears scoured her face. Still Serenity ignored them.

"It wasn't enough. It was never enough. Sammy was always worrying about what I had eaten, and I think he started lying about the amount of food he had so I would eat." She wanted to yell and pound her fists into the ground. If only she could go back and fix it. Take Sammy away from there. But he hadn't been strong enough to travel. Diamond would have found them, and Serenity knew any punishment he meted out would have been against her brother.

She could never protect her brother while she was out hunting. It was her biggest regret and hardship as she left him alone day after day, never knowing what would become of him if the other males grew too volatile. She was the only one to hunt successfully, though, and Diamond made it clear to the others that she was his. Those reasons alone were what prompted her to leave and hunt.

Along with the knowledge that Sammy needed more food.

Always needed more food, and water.

"It happened only a few days before I found this pack." Her voice didn't sound like her own it was so devoid of emotion. "I was out hunting, and when I returned Sammy was motionless. No one would look at me as I presented my kill. I hid not one, but two small carcasses for Sammy that night. The hunt had been a good one. I returned early. Not early enough."

Her jaw ached she was gritting her teeth so hard. Her eyes were finally dry. She had cried all her tears. Anger superseded her anguish now. She had loved and protected her brother above all else, and none of her pack offered to lift a finger, or offer their remorse. None asked to join the hunt. None sought training on how to better their skills or technique. Because of their carelessness and Diamond's greed her little brother was dead.

"I left. Nothing else held me to that pack the moment Sammy was gone. I was alone. So I ran."

She finally sought out the red-rimmed gaze of her older brother, and when her eyes settled on his face her expression was not a pleasant one.

"I found you."

"Ren-" His voice didn't sound like his own anymore.

Standing abruptly, Serenity shook her head, backing away. She didn't want to hear this.

"You don't have the right to call me that anymore."

The others around her stood too, and she tensed. Kunzite remained seated, however, his blood-shot eyes staring up at her pleadingly. Her throat tightened, feet halting their retreat. The others settled when they realized she wasn't going anywhere. Only Endymion stood with her. Out of the corner of her eye Serenity noted her Alpha's gaze was riveted to her face. She ignored his searing stare and focused instead on her blood brother.

"You left, Kunzite. Without a word. Without saying anything to me. To Sammy! What was I supposed to say day after day as he asked about you? Worried about you? How could you up and leave without telling us goodbye?"

"Sere-"

"No! You don't know what's it's been like after you left! You don't know how hard it was when daddy died! I was alone, Kun! All I had left was Sammy, and he was terrified something was going to happen to me! To see the stark terror and fear in a pup's eyes? Do you know what that felt like?"

A rough noise escaped her brother, but Serenity was past the point of feeling sorry for her older brother.

"You had a responsibility, Kunzite. To your family. And you left us. At the very least you could have taken us with you! I might be able to understand if you had a good reason, but to not even tell dad-"

"Dad is the reason I was forced to leave, Sere!"

His raw, aching, angry tone was not what stopped her ranting. His words were a cold shock to her system, and Serenity found she was swaying on her feet as the meaning behind her brother's words processed.

"...Daddy?"

"Yes. Our father wasn't as good and noble as you think, Sere." A heavy sigh as Kunzite raked a hand through his platinum hair. "Didn't you find it odd when he became Alpha after I was gone? Who would have been Alpha next, Ren? Think. Who was strongest? Dad?" Kunzite's scoffing tone belied what he thought of that question.

Growing dizzier by the second, Serenity slowly shook her head. She felt a gentle touch brace her, and for once she wasn't upset with this Alpha's love of touch, so long as he didn't let her fall down.

"You were..." Her words were whispered. Kunzite would have been the next Alpha. He would have been a great Alpha. But then he left. "Why?"

Kunzite slowly inclined his head as if he had been waiting for that question.

"It seemed someone was paying a particular amount of interest in our pack back then. Someone very dangerous wanted to make a deal. Dad accepted."

"No..." Serenity found she was slowly shaking her head. Dread filled her and settled like a rock in her stomach. She didn't want to hear this. She needed to hear it, but she knew she wouldn't like what she found out.

"The Nijuushin have a leader, Ren."

Serenity didn't scold him for using his old nickname for her this time. She felt cold shock invading her system, and was only vaguely aware when Endymion gently eased her to take a seat beside him, her thigh pressing against his. He didn't let go of her.

"They threatened our pack. They wanted complete control over it, or they would take us out one by one. We were small even then, Sere. We wouldn't have been able to overcome them."

When she didn't say anything, Kunzite continued.

"This man didn't want someone young and strong to take over. He was probably afraid we would later try to revolt. The plan was for dad to become Alpha and report to the leader of the Nijuushin, and they wouldn't harm the pack."

For some reason Serenity couldn't seem to make her tensed muscles relax.

"There was one condition, though." The stern set of Kunzite's mouth—his bleak gaze. She should have known her older brother would never have willingly left her. Not unless he thought he was protecting her. Protecting Sammy. "If Sammy was to stay in our pack, I had to leave it."

The sudden sharp, stabbing pain in her chest was unexpected, and Serenity doubled over, gasping for breath. Firm hands held her and rubbed her back, and once again that odd, old magic began to fill her. Shakily, Serenity sat up once more and hesitantly sought out her brother's gaze.

"So all this time..."

"All this time," Kunzite bit out with a barely contained snarl, "our pack has been in the hands of the Nijuushin and it apparently took them about a year to go back on their bargain and get rid of dad."

Serenity was suddenly very happy she had been sitting down, because those words shocked her to her core. Kunzite hadn't abandoned her and Sammy. Their dad had made a deal with the devil. The Nijuushin never attacked her old pack because they already controlled it.

"The Nijuushin leader must still control the pack through Diamond now, then." She didn't know how she could still form words after taking so many shocks to her system. Suddenly every pair of eyes snapped to attention, and Serenity shifted uneasily at the intensity as the hairs along the back of her neck and arms started to rise.

"Why do you say that?" Zoicite had been the one to finally ask.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Serenity's tone turned bland. "The pack up and moved time and again for no reason except Diamond's random say so. He would gloat and try to tell us it was for our own good." A shrug. "I never believed him. It seemed whenever we were relocated, the game grew more and more scarce. I thought he was trying to kill us," she added bitterly, noting the looks exchanged between the five men.

"You had no idea the Nijuushin were controlling your pack?"

Meeting Jedite's blue gaze, Serenity stared silently before answering.

"None."

The others nodded, as if they already accepted this.

"And dad never told you why I was forced to leave."

This time it wasn't a question, and Serenity winced.

"No. He always made it sound like you made a choice."

She bit along the inside of her cheek. This information changed things between them. They had both been hurt. They had both been trying to protect their loved ones. But her brother had changed, and so had she. Reconciliation between the two of them seemed more awkward and impossible to accomplish than ever, especially now that they were reunited and had no Sammy to help bridge the gap.

"Who is this leader, then? Of the Nijuushin?" Serenity found she wanted a name to stick all the blame to for her destroyed pack and her little brother's life.

"We don't know." Nephrite's tone was gentle as he spoke to her. "We only recently found out that he is Wolf, and believes in the hierarchy of Old. Therefore he is probably a White, or Black Wolf."

Serenity shook her head. Makoto's Mate need not try to sugar coat it for her. "He's a White. He must be, if he thinks he can be Alpha to other pack Alphas. I know the stereotypes."

The others didn't have anything to say to her observation, but she thought she saw respect in their gazes. She wondered briefly if any of the five had preconceptions about White Wolves, and if so, what they assumed about her.

She suddenly wondered what they thought of their Alpha's verbal claim, since none could have known her character.

"How did a White Wolf not only come across the Nijuushin, but get them to do his dirty work?"

Five soft growls rose at her question, and Serenity wondered if she was beginning to ask too much, too soon. She knew she must be hitting pretty close to home. After all, the Nijuushin must have been attacking this pack for about five years now, and these Wolf Kin surrounding her were very dominant breeds. Any threat to them and theirs would be a threat they needed eliminated. Their instincts would be to fight, and to defend. This subject must be a very sore spot for them indeed.

"That we do not yet know. We will find the answer to that question, however. Soon."

The way her Alpha's eyes gleamed at that last word made Serenity very happy to not be on the receiving end of his barely perceived threat.

Apparently there was some unspoken signal after Endymion spoke because the remaining four men rose to their feet and stretched, moving about as if the meeting was adjourned. Serenity craned her neck back in puzzlement, noting each man as he respectfully nodded to first Endymion, then Serenity before exiting from the small grove of trees.

Kunzite was the last one there, and he seemed to hesitate. Heart in her throat, Serenity merely watched him with wide eyes as he shifted on his feet, fidgeting before her.

"I didn't want to leave, Sere. If I had known what I know now-" He coughed roughly, ducking his head. Serenity had already seen the wet sheen of tears in his eyes, however, and her own gaze burned and began to blur.

"Kun-"

He lunged at her, falling at her side and wrapping his arms around her as he buried his head in the crook of her neck. A sob escaped, and Serenity honestly couldn't tell if the sound came from him or her. Tears spilled and she wrapped her arms tightly around her big brother. He cradled her in his arms as if she was precious, and Serenity found she was sobbing harder. Suddenly she was glad the grove would keep the sounds she was making secret to the rest of the pack. Clinging to her brother's White fur, Serenity inhaled deep lungfuls of her brother's scent and nuzzled her face against his.

"I missed you every moment of every day, Ren. Both you and Sammy. You must know."

She nodded into the crook of his neck. She did know. All this time she had been focusing on her own heartbreak. She never stopped to consider her older brother's might have been breaking as well.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

They were both apologizing, their voices intermingling. Serenity sniffed and finally pulled away.

"I missed you, too. So much. So did Sammy."

"Moon's Tears. Sammy. I'll never get to say—"

"It's okay, Kun. He knows. He has to know, now."

A watery chuckle. She hadn't heard her brother laugh in so long, her heart yearned to hear it again.

"I tried to save him, Kun. I did my best, but-"

"Shh. It's alright. I know. He knows, Ren. Don't ever doubt yourself. You did better than anyone could have expected. I'm proud of you, Ren."

Crying harder—she never expected her brother to say such things—Serenity ducked her head and tried to nod. Her forehead bumped against her brothers, and his nose nuzzled up to her hair.

"It's so good to see you, Ren. I'm glad you're here."

Laughing—she had been crying too much as it was—she nodded against him again.

"Me, too, Kun. Me, too."

She was glad she was here. She was glad she had the opportunity to start over and make a life for herself in a way she had never been able to in the past. Lifting her head, Serenity looked toward Endymion's seat and noticed that at some point he had slipped out of the grove to give her some privacy with her brother. Blinking past her surprise at such consideration, Serenity turned to her brother and noticed that even with his red-rimmed and tired eyes his expression was still able to take on an all-knowing brotherly smirk.

"He's not as bad as you think he is, Sere."

Feigning affront, she tried to lean away from her brother's hold. "I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Ren. Look at me."

Irritated, Serenity stiffened her spine and angrily met her brother's stare, muscles tensing. She had a feeling she knew what her brother was going to say.

"He's not Diamond. And he's not dad. He would never sacrifice one for the good of many." The corner of his lips twitched. "Actually, he's kind of like you in that sense. Maybe that's why I decided to follow him."

Awe. Of all the compliments Kunzite could have bestowed, Usagi never thought this would be one of them. Sitting back on her heels, Usagi stared at her brother as a strange and vulnerable feeling began to form in her belly and chest.

No. She couldn't start trusting others now. She had depended solely on herself for so long...

"Sere."

She met his gaze, though it took some effort to not shy away from what her brother was saying.

"What does your inner Wolf say?"

She grimaced. He would ask her that. She refused to answer for a second, causing Kunzite to annoyingly raise an eyebrow.

"And to think I missed that expression of yours," she grouched, knowing she was stalling and he brother had way more patience than she did. "My Wolf wants to stay," she said finally. "She wants to trust him."

Her Wolf was being watchful, but she wasn't about to admit that to him. Watchful inner beasts caused all kinds of problems—most leading to finding a Mate and that was exactly what Serenity didn't want just now.

Still Kunzite chuckled.

"Your Wolf won't be sorry, Sere. And neither will you."

Rising to his feet, Kunzite barely had to exert any strength in pulling his sister up after him. Both brows shot up into his hairline.

"We need to get your strength back. Endymion was right when he said a breeze could blow you over."

Serenity growled threateningly, and Kunzite pretended not to have heard.

"The others are out on patrol. It's never a good idea for the Five to have over-long meetings when the enemy is out there. We try to divide our numbers when we can, for protection."

He led her from the grove of trees, and Serenity touched her warm cheeks, trying to feel if her face would give away the fact that she had been sobbing moments before.

"Ren, it's different here. You're among pack. You can show weakness. You don't have to be strong all the time."

"Don't I?"

She hadn't meant to let the thought escape, but the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. She felt the towering form of her brother tense beside her, but he didn't say anything right away.

"Give us a chance, Ren."

She knew what he was really asking.

Give me a chance.

Biting her lip, Serenity slowly acquiesced. The part of her Wolf that had grown so independent rebelled, but the part that acknowledged Kunzite as Blood won out. She wanted something to believe in, again.

She wanted her big brother back.

A hefty sigh of relief was released, and Serenity had to remind herself how hard this must be for Kunzite as well.

"I don't have patrol for another hour or so. Let me hunt for you. I shouldn't take long."

Dread. Shock. Disbelief. Hope.

Let me provide for you.

He was asking too much, too soon. She didn't know if she could accept. Expression crumbling, Serenity tried to ferret out her feelings and thoughts on the subject. Hadn't her Alpha hunted and provided for her already?

Her inner Wolf-beast clamored for attention.

Wasn't that the way it should be? Alpha providing. Blood-brother providing. Family. Pack.

Home.

Slowly, Serenity nodded her head.

Another relieved exhale, and her brother was hurriedly pelting words her way. Something about stay there and be right back. Then he raced off into the forest, and Serenity was left alone once more, torn between wanted to laugh or cry. He seemed so eager to please. Maybe his own Wolf needed to provide for the only kin he had left.

"I did not think you would say yes."

She shouldn't have been surprised Endymion had waited for her. She didn't turn toward him, she merely stared at the place of the forested area where her brother's back had disappeared. Endymion stepped up beside her, his gaze also riveted to where her brother's form disappeared.

"I didn't, either."

Her throat was so raw it was an effort just to get the words out. Suddenly Endymion's dark eyes were on her again, and Serenity sighed. She wondered if she would ever get used to his quiet intensity.

"It tore him apart. Being away from you and your brother."

She didn't know what her Alpha was trying to accomplish. She already knew Kunzite hadn't left of his own volition, now. Not really. Biting along the inside of her cheek, she remained silent.

"He rarely spoke two words to anyone. He closed himself off from all emotion, Serenity."

Her lungs restricted. She didn't want to hear this, but something about the cadence of his tone pulled her in.

"He's changed since you've come here. He has finally allowed himself to start feeling again."

A soft whimper caught in her throat, and Serenity's eyes closed as though in pain.

"Let him protect you, Serenity. Allow us to protect and provide for you. You are ours now. No one else's."

She didn't know where those last words came from, but she suddenly remembered she hadn't told the Five that Diamond may actually attempt to search for her. Her eyes snapped open, lips parting to mention that fact, but Endymion was now standing directly before her with a rather possessive look in his gaze that robbed her of all speech. She stared, mind blanking as he took his time to allow his eyes to roam over her slight build. His hand reached out to cradle the side of Serenity's face and she mentally congratulated herself for not flinching.

"Sammy was protecting you, too."

The breath froze in her lungs. Endymion took a step nearer, fingers gently moving a strand of hair from the side of her face. Her body swayed, either in shock or in need of the sudden warmth rising from his body.

She locked her knees against the feeling.

"You may blame yourself, little one, but he was growing older. Kunzite tells me he would have been nearing adulthood soon. How do you think a young male Wolf would feel, seeing the one he cared about on the verge of starvation herself?"

"But Sammy-"

"Serenity. You were the sole provider for your pack. You needed the food more than anyone, because you were the one burning the most energy throughout the day."

She suddenly felt very dizzy.

"How do you know all this?"

He tilted her jaw, running his nose down along the side of her neck before pulling away.

"It's what I would have done, had I been in his position. How long do you think it would take for your little brother to put two and two together?"

Another whimper escaped, and this time Endymion moved into her. His arms wrapped tightly around her as he pulled her against him. Heated breaths trailed across her cheek and past her ear, and Serenity merely blinked in slack-jawed shock at the boldness of this Alpha's move. Her limbs were still dangling uselessly at her sides as his teeth found the fleshy bit of skin between neck and shoulder and he administered a single chastising bite.

With a squeak, Serenity finally regained her strength and writhed in his hold, trying to create distance between their bodies even though she knew his mark didn't break the skin.

"Why are you doing this?" She demanded, growling as he refused to allow her to slip away.

He sighed against her hair, finally loosening her hold and allowing her the room she needed to slip from his arms and put quite a few feet of distance between them. Still, she wanted to hear what he had to say so she waited expectantly. Watching him with a guarded gaze even as she rubbed at the light bite mark grumpily.

"Guilt. You are letting it destroy you little Wolf, and I will not stand by and watch it happen."

"But Sammy-"

She didn't know how he did it, but somehow between one moment and the next her Alpha was one again directly before her and giving her zero breathing room. His nose brushed against hers and she shivered.

"Sammy did the one thing he found the strength and power within himself to do. He saved your life. Do not waste his precious gift, little one. Do you think he regrets his actions?"

"He's just a—"

"Pup? Five years is enough time for a pup to grow. Are you sure he was so young in spirit? If you cannot see it, tell me this. If it had been the other way around, and you were watching your Sammy from the heavens, would you regret your choice?"

The knowledge burned and tore at the heart of her, and once again she found herself crying in her Alpha's arms. How pathetic and useless she must seem to him. Her heart cried out, reaching for the soul of her baby brother.

You grew up, didn't you? She asked him. You grew up so fast, and I hadn't taken the time to really notice.

"Serenity."

It took her a moment, but when she finally had enough control over her thoughts and emotions she pulled away to meet Endymion's deep blue stare.

"Do not allow this guilt to have such a hold on you. You're brother is happy now, and at peace. Honor his last effort to keep you safe. Give thanks to his precious gift, and live."

She stayed silent in her Alpha's strong arms until Kunzite's return, feeling both raw and numb. Then she said little, and ate much as both Alpha and kin remained at her side as she accepted her brother's kill. She didn't remark upon their watchful stares, and grumble at their noted looks concerning how little she could eat without becoming sick. The quiet intensity didn't raise her hackles this time, though. This time Serenity was focusing on someone far removed from her situation.

Thank you, Sammy. I won't let you down.

She knew wherever he was, he was smiling.