And here is the bit I wanted to write about bitty Itisha meeting Ren and her father. :) Enjoy! Dark Hunters of course belongs to the wonderful Sherilyn Kenyon.

There was a strangled sound from somewhere in the trees. Makah'Alay looked up from what he was doing. Then he looked around. No one else was around. There was a deep set frown as he heard the sound again. It was a sound he had never heard before and it made him want to get help but… he also didn't feel like being kicked.

A deep frown from the boy and he looked around and grabbed onto his knife he was using for his chores. He started towards the sound. Surely someone else had heard it, right? Another sound and he shook the doubts starting to clutter his head. Maybe he could bring it home if it was game he could bring home as food.

With that thought in mind, he started to try and tread carefully. The strangled sounds got louder and then he swore he heard something that sounded like a whimper. The sounds of a strange language as well coming out of the mouth of the being made him stop. Was it a demon? Curiosity clawed at him as he crept forward and then stared at the tangle of limbs in branches. The white scales looked like precious opals as the thing writhed. From what he could see in the tangle of the trees, there was a long tail, sharp claws, and wings. From here it could not see them, but he could see the thing writhe and fight.

Then it let out another pitiful sound and he froze. He could hear its distress. It's pain as it tried to untangle. The membrane of the wings was torn up and it just wanted to get free. He stood there for a long time, watching it struggle as he warred with himself. There was no honor in killing the trapped thing. Plus something deep inside him told him how terrible of an idea it would be. Like his misery would become ten fold if he killed the beast.

Instead he quietly approached and spoke quietly as he made sure the thing could see him. Piercing blue eyes stared at him as the beast froze. He spoke quietly, "D-d-d-d-don't be afraid. I am g-g-g-g-going to h-h-help you." Bah, he was stuttering around the beast. Yet… it seemed as though it understood. Though when it started babbling at him, he stared owlishly at her. "I d-d-d-do not und-d-derstand w-w-what you are s-s-saying."

A slow blink and then the beast scrunched up its face as it tried to think. Trying to attempt words. Auntie Sterope had taught her some words. Of course she discovered this realm had a lot of words and thousands of ways to say the same ones.

Makah'Alay hesitated and spoke something softly in the language he learned first. This time he did not stutter. He never would have dared spoken this way around others, "I cannot understand you. Are you a demon too?"

Recognition hit then. Her mother told her about a 'cousin' she would meet some day who wished in the language of demons. Her mother taught her about that one. She shook her head. This one didn't look like any sort of demon. Though what did she know? She wasn't even supposed to be here.

"I am not a demon. I am a star like my Mommy." Then she twisted her head around to get a better look at him, "You have eyes kind of like me! You remind me of Auntie Sterope!"

Sterope? That made him stare at her. He would have almost thought her sister if not for the strange word of Auntie before the name.

"How did a star… how can a star be on Earth?"

"Well, I am not supposed to be here. I was supposed to wait with my Mom and Sterope to come and see my Daddy. But I didn't want to wait that long." She watched him break the branches around her and when she could move better, she started breaking some too. Mostly the ones around her wings. Those hurt a lot. Yeah, she was going to be in so much trouble.

"You said you know Sterope?" Makah'Alay asked, trying to help make sure he didn't tear her wings any more than they had been. When he finished, he watched her plop down on the ground and wriggle around like a hound before rolling onto her belly and looking at him. She was large like a buck, but she kept herself flat to the ground as to not tower over him. Head dipped down to be eye level with him and he could not help but want to pet her snout. To feel those scales that he realized glowed.

"Uh huh. A big meanie put her on the comet when she had a baby. So she cannot see it, but she loves her baby a lot and she gets sad a lot. Momma said she saw him once, but wasn't allowed to help him. It makes her really angry to talk about it. My name is Itisha."

Makah'Alay stared at her and then tried to work up the ability to speak, "My mother…. I…. I am Makah'Alay."

Itisha tilted her head and then blinked, "You are my cousin! You must be Auntie Sterope's baby!" She suddenly started bouncing around. Running around him in excitement before nearly bowling him over with her face rubbing against his before turning into a little glowy ball of light and zipping around him a few times before poofing back into a dragon and sitting on the ground, "Hi, cousin!"

That made him just gape at her more. She was so warm and… lively. Not to mention that weird bit with the ball of light that nearly blinded him. She really was a star. Cousin. He stared at her for a long time and then spoke again, "Can you take me with you? When you go home?"

Itisha stared at the question and then wilted, eyes looking towards the ground, "I am sorry, Makah'Alay. I cannot. I don't even know if I can go home. But… my parents couldn't help you and I don't think I am allowed to either. Can I try to give you another wish? I am a star… maybe I could do something?"

"Um… " What could he wish for? He didn't want to wish for anything that seemed impossible. He frowned and then a hopeful look shone in his eyes, "Could you tell… could you tell my mom that I miss her?"

"Yes!" Itisha could do that one. Glad she could do something, she moved and nuzzled him before looking up towards the sky, "I will let her know. When the comet comes around again, look up high in the sky. I will find you." She promises. Another nuzzle of him and she could hear people yelling. A sudden move to cower back and try to hide, "Are you going to get in trouble because of me?"

Makah'Alay wanted to lie. He really did. A look to the frightened beast at the yelling he understood. He really wanted to go with her. Hand reached out to pet her head soothingly, "It will be okay. I am always in trouble. Please go. I don't know what they will do to you."

Itisha nodded and nuzzled the hand, "I am sorry." She whispered and vanished. Makah'Alay really hoped she meant what she did about telling his mother his message.

"I see it! I see Earth, Mommy!" Itisha bounced around and stared over the edge of the comet. Intense blue eyes were wide in wonder and her white wavey hair whipped around her face. She was going to see her daddy!

Onna came up behind her and smiled at the excitement. Oh she knew about the singular little escapade. Part of her was sad that she had not found her father, because she wanted him to badly see the surprise of life that he left her. The other part of her was thrilled because that meant she could see his face for the first time realizing that the little one was his daughter. The only good thing that came of her little trip was Sterope knowing her baby did not hate her and that the child knew he was not totally despised. There was love in the world for him.

Fingers started to play with that wild hair and she started to braid it back to keep it out of her daughter's face. She couldn't have looked no more than nine years old. Securing it with a gold band with little star charms, she smiled, "I see it too. What are you most excited about?"

"Seeing Daddy and Makah'Alay! I want to show him all the new things I learned since last time. Do you think he will be little like me or an adult?" Given his mother was Sterope it was hard to say. The star of course was another matter. A dance around the comet and the brilliant red skirt of the dress whirled around her. Golds curled in intricate embroidery with bright coppery flowers. It matched the single coppery crown on her head that doubled as a head band. "And I really want to meet Daddy. I hope he likes me. What if he doesn't like me, Mommy?" There was a pause and she looked over to Onna. Makah'Alay's family and people all seemed to hate him. Not that she could understand why. He was so kind to her. So helpful. Brave.

Onna blinked at that fear and her heart broke. To know that such people could treat anyone in such a way was not a horror she wanted her child to face so soon. She moved to her daughter and kissed her forehead, "Because I watched his anger when he saw your cousin, My Heart. He wanted to wisk him away so badly and protect him from all of the hurt in the world. I have no doubt in my mind that he will want to see you and cherish you like the treasure you are."

That seemed to soothe her, though Itisha looked towards the Earth again, "If I find Makah'Alay, I want to help him. I don't care what any force says. He should be hugged and played with and be able to hunt and everything." There was a tone of determination in her voice, "Then we can be one big family. We can figure out how to get him and Daddy onto the comet!"

"Oh Itisha…" She was such a dreamer. Certainly a trait she earned from her father. "If anyone could figure that out, it would be you." Onna looked over to Sterope who looked towards the Earth with longing.

"Auntie Sterope, would you like me to get a message to Makah'Alay?" Itisha asked, bright eyes looking to the goddess hopefully.

The goddess blinked and looked at the girl she spoiled as much as she could and doted on every moment she was allowed to. If only she could dote on her son in such a manner. She walked over to Itisha and brushed her fingers against her hair, "Yes please. And a gift."

Itisha smiled up at her with a brilliance that stunned many, "I would be happy to!" Especially if she could make her cousin and aunt smile. The kiss on her head made her smile more and she looked towards the Earth. Hopefully she could keep her promise… and not get stuck on any trees.

The wait felt so painfully long. Yet soon she blinked as her mother started laughing and pointing. Looking down, Itisha saw a black dot speeding towards them. Even from there she could see glimmering magic as the dot vanished and then was closer, "Is that him? Is that Daddy?"

Onna nodded and shifted, wings stretching as she looked down at the male, "At least it is going smoother this time. I wonder what he is using for magic this time. Make sure you have Aunt Sterope's gift, Itisha. Let's go meet your father half-way before he hurts himself."

Itisha nodded and shifted. She always loved her mother's brilliant colors. She also loved how similar she was to her, even though she was closer to opals and moonstones than the molten fire colors her mother was. Another poof and she saw the dot even closer now. He looked like the night sky! Itisha started bouncing where she was and ran in a circle before checking to make sure she had the gift and she nuzzled Sterope. Then she looked at her mother, "Can we go now? Please?"

"I will be back, Sterope. Please be safe." Onna promised before taking off and flying down right as the male poofed again and was so very close that they could see the color of his eyes now. Itisha made a trilling sound and leapt off and zoomed down, glowing like a little shooting star as she zipped past her mother and started to fly circles around the male.

"Itisha! Wait!" Onna called after her. Exasperated but laughing as Auzrin jerked to a near stop and nearly fell from going prone. She swiftly came to meet with them and flew close enough to nuzzle against the male, "Hello, Auzrin. It has been a while. I see you figured out some stronger magic."

Auzrin was just staring first at the speeding little white dart and then looked at the one who made his heart swell to see her. Adoration spilled from him as he nuzzled her back, "Yes, I called in a few favors. I was busy working out all the bugs so I could get higher. I can breathe and the magic isn't trying to shatter." He watched the little thing zip around them, "So… who is… that?"

Onna's eyes glittered and she smiled, "This is our daughter, Itisha. Darling, please stop shooting around like that and let your father see you." She chided and the little dragoness slowed and flew in lazy circles around them as best she could.

It was so hard to contain her excitement and worry, "Hiiiiiii Daddy. I'm Itisha! Mommy told me how nice and kind you are and how you flew up to try and catch a comet and how you touched the moon! I touched moons too! Lots of moons! And planets and stars! I like the other stars. They are fun! Even the big red giants play with me! Flying in storms is fun too! Makes me really tired though and I really hate the lightening, but it is fun! Also the rings of-"

"Itisha, sweetheart, calm down. You are going to have plenty of time to tell him everything." Onna laughed and then she nuzzled Auzrin affectionately before gesturing her head towards the ground, "May we land, please? She can fly you dizzy if you let her."

Auzrin laughed too and nodded, teeth showing in a fearsome draconic grin, "Yes. Although I do not mind if she wishes to babble. After all, it is not long I will see you both. So I imagine there is a lot I need to learn about." He started to guide them down to somewhere safe, though the bright little white dart he worried over, "Itisha fly closer to me please. I would not want someone to hurt you because you stand out against the night sky." He felt the brush of air as she got closer to him and he brought then down to a spot with thick tree coverage. He landed and shifted down, watching Onna do the same and then the tiny dragon shifted as well.

Then he was staring down at the most precious child he had ever seen. The little flying opal was as beautiful as a star in this form as she was a dragon. He knelt down to look her better eye to eye and held out his hand to her, palm up, "Hello, Itisha. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Itisha stared at the giant hand and the giant of a man that stood there. He was huge. Crystal blue eyes stared up at him. A blink at the hand and she dashed past it and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug, "Hello, Daddy!"

"Speaking of seeing us. I had thought that while I cannot stay here long, our daughter could. With you. Seventy-five years here with you and then she can come back with me for a while and back and forth between us both. If you are willing." Onna spoke her suggestion lightly. Watching those eyes widen and then love filling them at the claim the child gave him.

Daddy. She called him Daddy. Oh his heart, "Hello, little star." Auzrin managed with a rough voice, "You want me to keep her? For so long? What about you?" Oh how badly he wished he could be up there with them instead. He had never imagined he would have a daughter. Nor a mate. He reached his hand out towards Onna to encourage her to approach so he could tug her close and give her a fierce short kiss.

Onna nearly melted at that little kiss. It said so much. She had missed him as much as he missed her. Oh she was going to make sure she cherished as much time with all three of them together as possible. Drawing back she smiled and nodded, watching the tiny little dragoness curl against his chest. She watched their daughter watch in trepidation, hoping he would let her stay.

"Yes. Until the comet passes again, and I will be fine. I will miss you both, but I know she will be in good hands. She ought to be able to learn both of our worlds and both of our love. We are long lived after all, it gives her time." Then she smiled, "Plus as she gets older I am sure she will gain a much better grasp at that teleportation. She visited Earth several decades ago trying to find you before I could introduce you."

"She did?" Eyes went wide as he drew back and looked at Itisha for a long time. The distance that must have been! "Well, I am glad she made it to and from alright. At least I know what to look out for." All the heart attacks. All of them. Auzrin scooped her up and looked at her as she squeaked, "So, little star, would you like to spend seventy-five years with me? I am afraid my world is not as expansive as your mother's, but I can try to make it interesting."

A bashful look and then she blinked as she was scooped up. He was asking her? Eyes went wide and she hugged him tight again, "Yes! Please! I want to learn everything, please! Oh, oh and I need to find Makah'Alay! I need to give him a gift!" She poofed out of her dad's arms and then appeared on the ground, "I'll be right back! I am going to give him a gift and then try to find him and bring him home and- yes!" She vanished and left both of her parents gawking at the spot the girl had been.

"Dear gods, my hair will go as white as her scales by the end of the week." Auzrin laughed weakly. He looked to Onna and tilted his head towards her. "Should we… try to find her? How to we begin looking for her?" Panic was filling his chest. What if someone tried to hurt her? Then he remembered something. The child. Makah'Alay. Oh no. Oh no no no, "I swear if he hurts her…" He suddenly growled.

Onna looked perplexed, "He who? Makah'Alay? Why would he hurt her? He saved her before?"

When Auzrin explained to her short hand what had happened, the star paled and looked towards the sky as though their little star would be there. Eyes closed tightly to try and listen to the familiar language his wishes had been in, "Are you absolutely sure it was him?"

"I know no other by such a name." Auzrin promised and looked at the sky. He could try to port there, but he didn't know where she went. "Could you find her"

"I am trying. I am… hoping to hear if he has wishes. Not all wishes are good ones." She said grimly. Oh, she really hoped her daughter knew to run if she was put in danger. Onna grabbed onto his hand, "I think I know where she is. But we must hurry." He did not feel malicious, but the wishes held so much guilt and self-loathing in them.

Itisha stood in a strange yard and looked around. The forest was similar in scent, but she was not entirely accustomed to it. It had been so long since she had been there. A frown as she tried to peek towards the village. Except she could not find it It looked different than before, "Makah'Alay?" She called out into the trees softly.

A hesitation and she called the name again. Itisha frowned and started to walk around. The trees towered over her and everything felt strange and looked just as much so. She yelled the name this time and waited. Where was she? Maybe her parents knew? How did she get back though? Oh… she shouldn't have left.

A little whimper and she looked up at a tree and decided that maybe climbing it would help her find her way. She promised! The little dragoness had promised her cousin that she would meet with him when the comet came around again. A she got into the tree, she was suddenly startled by a massive black raven. Never having seen one she squeaked and fell from the tree. The bird swooped down and turned into a man who caught the child. Black eyes stared down at the little glowing child in his arms.

Itisha started to rapidly apologize and plead not to get hurt and that she was just looking for her cousin. Just wanted to find her cousin, Makah-Alay. As she babbled in the demonic language he knew best, the man stared at the tiny thing.

"Itisha?" He asked, astonished. She was so… small still.

At her name she froze and stared at him. The eyes were all wrong and this man was just… huge. A sniff at him and… well he smelled the same. A shift to partly crawl up at him, holding his head between her hands. Intense eyes staring at him, "Makah'Alay?"

There was a near snarl that made her freeze when he reacted to the name. "Don't call me that!" She wilted in his arms and he suddenly felt guilty. Especially as tears started to crop up in her bright eyes. A couple deep breaths and he gave her a thin smile, "My name is different now. It is Ren." No need to tell her what it meant entirely.

Itisha still was wilted as she looked at her hands. She must have really screwed up. There was a numb little nod and Ren felt guilt stab at him again. Being feared by her was not something he wanted to do.

"I am sorry for yelling, Itisha. Truly. It has been a long time and… a lot of things have happened since then." Ren told her softly as he moved to set her down on the ground and kneel before her, "You do not have to, but please forgive me."

Itisha looked up at him and met his eyes. A shift and then she magicked a bag out of the air and a note. She held them out to him, "I promised you and Aunt Sterope that I would see you again and bring you a gift." Then she managed a little smile, "It is okay. I didn't know you would get big. I am sorry I took so long."

His mother. She brought something from his mother. Stunned, he reached out for the gifts and cradled them. He looked over the note and then the bag. His heart wanted to stop at the crystals inside. Pocketing both, he offered his hand to her, "Thank you, Itisha." He spoke softly in a different tongue, forgetting himself.

Imagine his surprise when Itisha smiled at him, "You are welcome. Do you want me to give anything to Sterope? I can ask Mommy to take it to her. I am going to be staying with my Daddy until the comet comes back in another seventy-five years. Maybe I can hunt with you."

"I… will think of something to send to her." Ren promises and then he cringes, "I do not think it would be a good idea for you to hunt with me, Itisha. You are very sweet, but you would be in a lot of danger. I've done many bad things in my life and many people would rather me dead for it. I wouldn't want you in danger and I imagine your parents would not either." Oh gods. Those big innocent eyes looked so confused and hurt. Never so badly did he want to just run away from shame, but there he was staring at a child who had once given him a little bit of hope.

"But I would learn Ma- Ren! I would learn to fight! Then I could help protect you and you could meet my Daddy and Mommy and I could learn how to get you to the comet and you could visit your Mommy!" Her eyes got glassy as she stared at him. A sniff as she wiped at her eyes.

"Itisha, he is right. You can't fight. Not yet. It is not safe for you." Onna said softly. She came out of the trees running and dropped to her knees to hug her child tightly to herself. It was then the poor thing broke down crying. She looked to the male and frowned as he stared at her. Seeming startled with her appearance there so suddenly, "I am glad my mate was wrong about you possibly hurting her, but I would be lying if I said I would not be bothered by the things you have done."

"I am bothered by it too." He said quietly, looking at Itisha huddling against the woman he gave a bow, "I am sorry to cause you distress. Could you… tell my mother that I am sorry?" For what he had become. The things he had done. No doubt she would be angry at him. Disown him. Then he added softly, "And I am sorry, Itisha, for disappointing you. Listen to your parents. Don't make them worry." And please do not seek him out again. He turned into a raven and flew away, leaving Itisha there clutching to her mother in such utter confusion and hurt.

Auzrin approached finally, a sigh of relief at seeing both alive and well. Though concern grew at the sight of Itisha crying. He blinked when she ran towards him, allowing him to scoop her up and cradle her to his chest, "Did she get hurt?"

"Only her hopes." Onna explained softly, "Whatever he has done, he is no longer the evil you feel he was." She watched as her daughter fell asleep. Given she had hardly rested the trip there, she was not surprised, "But there are a lot of dangers in the world. We will need to keep her safe and teach her how to fight and hunt if we are able."

"I promise to teach her all that I can about surviving here, Onna." His voice gentle as he purred the words to give his daughter comfort. She was so very small in his arms. A shift as he heard voices and he cursed softly, "For now, it isn't safe here. I can take you somewhere that is safe for us all." He shifted Itisha into one arm. His other arm wrapped around Onna and they vanished from the trees. From one of the trees the raven watched.

Ren would have to make sure to ward her off so her parents did not lose her. It was better for her this way anyway. The child did not need to make friends with the likes of him.