A/N: hey I am back from vacation! Had a blast y'all, but its good to be home. From freak mountain thunderstorms, to wedding shenanagains, wolves and rock climbing, cherry pie eating contests, and walking along the lake front life is okay. There were a few rough down points, and I'm happy to be home. When ever I had a small connection though and when I got back however I was immensely pleased and down right giddy to find such nice reviews for the last chapter. Thank you very very very much to:

Coolcat101s

I.F.T.S.

Axelgirl14

You guys cheered me up quite a bit in a few hard situations. So thank you all for that and your continued support.

And lets not forget those of you who fallowed and favorited either the story, or myself. I love you guys, really I do.

So in honor of this! I will probably have two or even three chapters for you today! It depends on how much I wrote in the car before my kindle battery would go dead and how much other free time I had. So with out further ado!

Read sweet cherries read read read! Mwahahahaaaaa!

Oops, you didn't hear that.

Four years. It had been four years since anyone had seen hide or hair of Dead Island Tribe, or anyone taken by them. It was as if they had vanished into thin air. They had searched the islands and the waters around. And surely they knew better than to go out to the open ocean beyond, there was nothing out there for any of them. Many had given up hope, and prayed that they had been swallowed up and ripped apart in the terrible storm that had hit the islands not long after they had headed home.

It had been fierce, even Kiku could not remember such a storm, and he had lived through twenty five storm seasons. Nor had he seen one as bad since. Though he had an odd nagging feeling that the gods planed to unleash a wrathful season on them this season. He feared for the tribes, as once again they gathered to celebrate the season past and the season coming. Let them have their fun for now, they deserved their happiness while they could enjoy it.

This year they gathered on Kilowe Island's northern most shore. The fire blazed and danced brightly as ever, Kilowe's unique dragon orchid wood giving it a bright pinkish core that flickered softly. Music once again filled the air as yet more food and strong liquors were produced and the drinking began. After all no fun could be truly had until there was a couple of drunken idiots to laugh at. Though it was kept carefully away from children and the eager teenagers just dying for a taste of adulthood and freedom.

Kiku as a Shaman, was supposed to remain distant and aloof to preserve the haunting and spiritual air he carried. Or if he had to be social, convene silently with the other Shamans, Katyusha from Kilowe, and Yao from Tiberi. Normally he would too, he enjoyed Yao's company especially and Katyusha was always such a sweet woman. But tonight even he could not help drifting close to the dancers around the fire and smiling as he watched even the littlest of children just able to walk twirl around in dizzy circles.

Little Anya made an especially beautiful dancer as she spun around with her mother while Ivan watched on from the cooler shadows. At four years old now, she bore her father's unusual beige blond hair, and her mother's tropical eyes, she would grow up to be beautiful. He could spy young Antonio through the crowd moving quite sensually to the beat of the drums and high pitched hum of flutes. Prince Lovi fallowed him around the fire wherever his lithe form and quick feet decided the take him. A shiny new promise mark glimmered on both.

Elizaveta wasn't dancing this year, and instead kept to the musician's side of the fire where she sat next to a young man with dark hair and violet eyes, and an unusual little curling cow lick. He was immersed in playing his flute, but snuck a shy kiss with the girl when he seemed to think none of his fellows would notice the lost notes. He remembered them well. The omega who acted like an alpha and the alpha who acted like an omega. They weren't promised, but Kiku suspected that even if they didn't, they would be mated when they came of age.

The sweet and smokey scents around him did nothing to hide the scent of those newly mated hiding in the tree tops some yards away. Among them he recognized one of his frequent visitors, Gilbert, and the now young man's mate Matthew. They had impressed many tonight, having kept a promise since twelve and over such a long distance, the two defied logic. But then, Gilbert had a habit of going against everything people told him, and he had turned Matthew into a bit of a rebel as well. Kiku would be sad to see them both safely off to Tiberi come day break.

A loud roaring laugh caught his keen ears, and he stopped short to see Romulus drunkenly whirling around the fire with Alfred. A pink blush extended from their faces all the way down their necks, a drunk flush if ever he had seen one. The two appeared to be having a grand old time of it, while Alfred's disgruntled mate Arthur, huffed annoyedly at them. Though Kiku could see the amusement and love twinkling in his warm emerald eyes as he wrapped an arm over his just gently rounded stomach. And even he laughed as the two stumbled and crashed into the crowd falling apart with more intoxicated giggling.

But one youthful face was missing from the festivities and whirling bodies around the flames this year. Feliciano had disappeared yet again. The oldest prince had a habit of it in past years, but especially once he hit thirteen. He would vanish into thin air for sometimes days, and the reappear just as quickly with a more ragged and somber appearance. Kiku could only guess he left to scour the island for any sign of where the dead islanders may have gone and taken his beloved with them. The day of the attack still haunted him terribly, but he was certainly better than the first few months when he would often come to his home in anguished pain over Ludwig. But he couldn't really blame him sometimes. He was promised, and the next day his promised was taken from him.

Now he seemed mostly carefree, aside from his responsibilities as a prince, and could often be found out on the ocean in his small two person skiff (its a kind of small sail boat). The water was his second home, as it was for many, and he possessed as much a natural ease for it as he did riding his casaraptor. He spent many a night sitting at the end of the longest dock swinging his feet back and forth just above the water. Kiku suspected by next year he'd be able to drag his feet through that water.

In fact that's where he was now. Kiku could see him sitting on the covered front of his skiff, moored ten feet or so off shore, with his feet dangling in the water. Becoming a teenager had been good to the prince. He wasn't terribly tall, but he was lean and lanky, an archer. After his almost instinctual skill with a bow had been revealed he had taken the time to hone the skill to expert levels. His mahogany hair had brightened to a shade nearer to a Tuscan red, and now fell straight rather than curling. All save for that one odd little curl that still stuck out from his left ear. Toned lean muscle was beginning to replace the baby fat that had made him cute, though he retained a childish face yet. At fourteen now, Feliciano was growing up to be a very fine looking young omega.

Right now though, he was deep in thought, with his bright bubbly amber eyes closed and brow creased. Felicity was no doubt milling about with the other casaraptors farther away from the gathering. Berlitz would have stayed home to watch the house. That, and since the wound to his left flank all those years ago he hadn't ever really been back up to swimming long distances. Felicity could if she was allowed rest in between trips. But she was reaching the age where she wanted to settle down more with a nest full of chicks and a good strong mate by her side. Kiku could only guess at what that would do to poor Feli if and when the time came.

With little regard for his white clothing Kiku began wading out toward the prince and his boat. The water wasn't deep, two and a half feet and lapping at his knees, but what was a pair of wet pant legs to an islander? The bright full moon shone down and cast a rippling trail of silver light across the dark surface of the ocean. A beautiful sight to be sure, serene and peaceful enough to think.

"Ve~? Can I a help you with something Kiku?" Feli despite his usually oblivious nature was very good at sensing when people were nearing him. Kiku stopped to the right of the small boat, just far enough that if he reached out he would touch the high side of the small craft. He looked up from the alluring ocean with a faint curiosity in his eyes, blooming through a pained sadness. Kiku smiled softly at him.

"No I don't particularly need anything. I simply wondered why you weren't dancing this year? You always dance around the fire at Storm Festival." The older beta asked keeping his voice level and gentle. Feli turned to stare out at the water again and gave a soft 've' of a sigh.

"I just, don't a feel like it this year." He said. That was a lie if ever Kiku had heard one from the Prince's mouth. He had ways been a terrible liar, but that didn't even matter this time. He was dressed to dance, in a long dark green flowing skirt twined with golden tassels and pinkish shells draped around his waist. Black and silver swirls decorated the fabric itself, a hard feat to find the colors for dye, so it must have been specially made for this occasion.

But before he could accuse the boy of such he noticed him glancing over his far shoulder back at the celebration. Sadness locked his gave on his brother as he pulled Antonio from the whirl of dancers for a hard, passionate kiss. Antonio melted right into it, pressed flush up against the alpha as he looped his mocha colored arms around Lovi's neck. Another sigh left his lips as he turned his head back to face away from the scene. Ahhh, and ther in lied the problem.

"Are you perhaps jealous of your brother Feliciano?" He asked carefully not wanting to offend him or put him on the defensive.

"No, I am a very happy for fratello, he needed someone stronger than an omega to a stand up to him and deal with a his temper. Its just..." if one knew Feli then one knew what he was going to say. Kiku sighed. It had been four years. Four miserable years for him, and he had only known the alpha for six moons. It wasn't often, but sometimes when one's promised was taken away before they were truly mated, those left behind could promise again, and add a second thin ring to the index of the original. Maybe it was time for prince Feli to know this option was open to him.

"Feli, sometimes promises are hard to keep, especially those marked in ink. There are cases where a promised pair is torn apart. Those often left behind, can promise again, or wait and mate another if they so choose. I think it is time you knew this was open to you. Its been four years-"

"And I will wait for decades more if I have to. I know that my Luddy is alive, and if he doesn't come back then I will go and find him Kiku." In all his time knowing the boy, he had never heard Feli sound so dead serious about anything. Except for perhaps, the night he had promised. His amber eyes focused straight ahead on the watery moonlit horizon. In the distance, one could just make out the silvery outline of Maykelo's volcanic top, and the faintest glow of fire lights of the few that had stayed behind. "And I'll bring him home." The last part was so softly spoken that Kiku almost though he hadn't heard it. But the emotions poured into those few words was enough to convince him.

"You can't wait decades, prince Feli. You sadly do not have that luxury. You are the eldest, therefore even if you can not fully take over the tribe, it is you who must produce an heir first. Hear me out. If he does not return by the time your heats start, then you must begin looking for a suitable mate." Kiku thought this a fair arrangement, it gave him time to truly get used to the idea the Ludwig was dead. He didn't like having to make it, but it was for Feli's sake as much as the tribe's. The boy could not spend his life wallowing in the sarrow of a lost promised. Yes he would probably never get over it, but it could not dominate his life.

Feli looked at him almost harshly for a moment, a gaze he had not turned on Kiku once in his life. But the Shaman stood firm in the beating waves around him. Yet another sigh left him as he knew it was true and a fair deal given his circumstances.

"Ve~ Alright. That gives a me four more years. I can wait that long." He said quietly. With a silent hand he offered to help the Shaman into his boat. His toes had began to grow rather cold, so Kiku took the offered hand with a grateful smile and climbed into the skiff to rest with with prince as he came down from the bow. He settled himself beside the older beta and tipped his head back to look at the sky.

"Kiku, the gods a tell you many things right? Can a they tell you the future?" Feli asked as his eyes turned to dark golden pools reflecting the distant white stars he watched. The swirled with the lights of cosmos and made him like far wiser and older than he actually was. An interesting look, yet not an unpleasant one. The black haired man gave a soft hum.

"My prince, even the great gods who rule over us do not know the exact future. But hey have given me many a glimpse of possible futures in my service to them. Even more now than before." He said as he too looked back up at the stars. His inky eyes reflected it as a true night sky rather than the golden impression Feli's gave, amenity made him seem that much more mysterious in his ways.

"Do you ever see me in them?" Kiku let a small smirking smile grace his face. He had suffered enough heartache, he deserved to know something of what his life could be like for him.

"I have seen many futures with you in them my dear Feli. I have seen ones where you are yet anguished over your lost promised. I have seen yet others where you are happily mated and chasing children about and a smile. But my most frequent, is one with you standing on the Docks, over looking the sea gold with the sun set, and round and heavy with a child. I do not see a mate, or anyone else, but you bare and easy and content smile. But I warn you Feli, any of these are possible. Do not try to change them because you do not like what you hear. Let things happen as they will." The Shaman warned sternly. Messing with the gods divined futures, trying to shift the course and current that they had set for you, would only lead to self destruction. It was like sailing in the darkest and worst of storms with no one else to help you and a broken arm. One can only do so much to change ones fate, you can stop a great many things, but if you try and stop what you can't, you will very likely end up dead.

Feli nodded, somewhat solemn, yet a calm happiness swirled deeply in his starlit eyes. He understood that what ever happened he could only do so much to change it, but he prayed it be the later of the three, something about it just sounded right to him. With a smile he closed his eyes and shifted around to sit long ways in his boat as Kiku did the same. The two sat back to back as the waves rolled beneath them, and began drifting off. The surf rocked them as if in a cradle set out to drift the sea of their mothers' arms, and it soon lulled the pair completely to sleep.

Morning found them slowly waking and collecting their peoples together. Though they would be leaving with one less than what they arrived with. Gilbert led his Birdie out of the jungle the next morning, with a new startling red inked maple (because they can grow in tropical environments) leaf now filling his promise mark. Red ink was hard to make, and rarely used for it often ended up looking as a gruesome wound. But on Gilbert it was tasteful, and went well with his already red eyes. Matthew bore an elaborate standard black bird, with head and wings thrown back in joyous flight. Fitting marks for both.

"I'll see you both next year then?" Feli asked as he hugged Gilbert tightly before releasing him. Gilbert had shot up in the last two years, standing a full six foot even. He also now sported a ring of shark's teeth markings around both biceps to mark his impressive catch of a baby Great Shark last year. He had gone from a scrawny teenager to a tall, yet impressively well built man of eighteen.

"Absolutely Feli. I know how much Gilbert means to you, I'm not gunna keep you from your brother figure. And I want to see you too." Matthew said reaching forward and hugging Feli as well. An odd lingering scent filled the other omega's nose. Something almost intoxicating and sweet, arousing, but not meant for him. He dismissed it and gave the blond one final squeeze before saying his final goodbyes to both. And with that Gilbert headed towards the Tiberi boats, with his new mate, to his new tribe.

Feli waded out to his skiff once more, where Felicity waited patiently in the water. With a gentle nudge from her snout he hopped into the boat and began tying up the sail. Just off to the side he saw Matthew gently tug on Gilbert's arm and lean up to whisper something in his ear as he turned vaguely red. Gilbert nodded then whisked Matthew up in his arms bridal style, and plant a deeply passionate kiss right on his mouth. Feli blushed brightly and turned away as he continued looping the fabric through a hole carved at the top of the little mast pole. That was not a kiss meant to be seen by children, hell it wasn't a kiss meant to be seen by anyone, or done in public at all. That was something made only for two lovers to share.

Feli released the sail as he shook his brotherly figure and his mate from his head picked up a long length of twine rope. Felicity noticed this, and slowly made her way out in front of his skiff. With a good toss, the looped end flew true landed where the loop of her harness would. She had the strength to tow the boat out into deeper water, and then she would simply swim along side the skiff the rest of the way home.

"Ready to go girl?" He asked the casaraptor brightly. She gave a short roar, fallowed by small coos and trills her excitement. She wanted to go back to, probably to see Berlitz, but home was home, and it was calling their names ones again.

"Hey Feli! You coming or what!?" Lovino called from ahead of him with he rest of the Maykelo fleet. Pele waited impatiently in water up to his neck, waiting to finish pulling Lovi's own skiff with him and Antonio out to deep water. Others drifted close by, Elizaveta,

"Coming fratello!" And with that, Felicity trotted forward, dragging the boat behind her and out into the wide blue sea, back towards home.

A/N: So was it worth being crammed in a tiny car with my bitchy little sister? I hope so. Cause if I ever have to drive that route straight through for 20 hours ever again I might really lose it. Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I loved writing it despite the circumstances under which it was written. I hope you all had lovely Fourth of July's with many beautiful fireworks and much good food. And now I say, adieu, adios, far well, salvete omnes. Good bye. Until the next time my sweets.