The elder basitin slowly made his way through the streets of the only town he knew. The winter was dragging on and it was still two months until the solstice. The northern wind blew through town like usual, and while it could have chilled a basitin from a more tropical climate, the thick white fur covering him from head to toe and the animal hide clothing was more than enough insulation to live comfortably in such a harsh land. While most of the villagers around him went about their daily business, he had something that was far from mundane to take care of. The nurse had finally cleared the strange human who nearly died in the blizzard, and he could now get up and regain his strength. More importantly, he was going to explain what happened to Shiloh.

Walking up to the second floor of the hospital, the basitin knocked thrice on the last door in the hallway. After a moment and an audible thunk on the floor, a muffled voice replied. "It's open!" Swinging open the door slowly so as to not startle the stranger, he let himself into the room where the human was half-dressed, but decent enough for conversation. The teenage human met his aging eyes as the basitin pulled out a necklace that was familiar to them both.

"I trust that our physicians along with that dragon of yours have been doing a good job?"

"Yes sir. Besides the missing finger, there apparently isn't going to be any lasting damage. Had it been much longer though, I may have lost entire limbs. Zephyr here said I even died at some point."

"Well, I don't know enough about medicine to say for sure one way or the other, but you are indeed very lucky. Now then, my apologies, but I've forgotten your name in the last couple of days."

"It's Connor, sir, and I don't think I caught your name yet."

"I am Magnus Adams. I believe you know something about what happened to my son, Shiloh."

Connor gave a heavy sigh as he looked at the necklace. While it was by complete happenstance, Shiloh's father was here before him, and no doubt the rest of his family was here as well.

"Yes, I knew him."

"He disappeared years ago, and I can tell you aren't from the North. So, mind telling me how you met him?"

"It is a long story…"

"I'm an old man, child, I have time."

"Alright. Well, it was this past spring that I was traveling with a young basitin in tow. He and his mother had been taken from the Basidian Isles and sold into slavery. Anyway, I had managed to escape from my own servitude, and they were both with me at the time. When the boy's mother passed, I adopted him as a brother. So, we were headed North trying to get back to my hometown of Maine. We ran into trouble, and I ended up being captured by a cult of dragon-worshipers called "adrakists". They had a fighting pit, and it was in there that I ran into your son."

Magnus seemed to become angered by the story so far. "So, you killed my son in a fighting pit?"

"No, no! Quite the contrary. We were placed in neighboring cells. We, along with my friend, Shadow… well, she wasn't really a friend at the time, but anyways; we made a pact that we would find a way out together. At one point, I feigned loyalty to the adrakists, and they allowed me to accompany one of their lieutenants on a raid. We were ambushed by a clan of tigers in the night, and among them was another friend of mine, Eira. She vouched for me and secured my freedom. We ended up invading the adrakists soon after that and freed the fighters."

"But something must have happened, or else my son would be here, wouldn't he?"

"Yes… I won't sugar coat it sir, Shiloh perished in the ensuing battle."

Magnus didn't seem completely convinced. "You would lie to an old man missing his son? That seems like quite the tale, and it might be accepted by drunks or fools, but you really expect me to believe that you didn't just rob and kill my son when you happened to run into him? That's what you humans do, after all."

"Well sir, I don't know what I could say to convince you, but it is the truth. I came North for three reasons. First, to escape being trapped in servitude again. Second, to find a home for Asher amongst his own kind. And third, to fulfill my promise to Shiloh that I would find his family and let them know what happened."

"But you have no proof, do you? Nor do I, so I can't exactly hold a trial to determine guilt or innocence."

Connor then remembered that there was one more task Shiloh asked of him, though it came in the form of a vision. He had been mulling over whether he actually had met Shiloh in the afterlife, or if it was merely hallucinations, but there was one piece of information Shiloh told him that he didn't already know.

"This might seem equally crazy, sir, but when I was out cold, Shiloh found me in the afterlife. Before I got sent back, he told me a set of numbers."

Magnus, evidently thinking he was being lied to, had enough. He got up to leave in disgust, parting with a scoff and wave of the hand, but Connor listed the numbers. "75, 15, 10. That's what he told me."

Magnus stopped in his tracks and turned around, closing the door. "My son told you this?"

"Yes. I don't know what they mean, but Shiloh said I should ask you when we finally met."

"He would not have revealed those numbers to anyone, not even under torture or the threat of death!"

"It did sound like it was important."

"It is. If my son told you those numbers, then he must have trusted you after all."

"What do they mean?"

"Shiloh never said. It had to do with something he found in the far north, well beyond even the wolf villages. All he would say is that the discovery would change the world or destroy it. All depending on whose hands the secret fell into."

"Well, a lot of good that does." Connor slumped back into the bedding, waking up Zephyr who was resting on the pillow.

Just then there was a knock on the door which interrupted their conversation.

"Young man, don't reveal those numbers to anyone, especially your own kind. I don't know what my son found, but it was enough to swear secrecy from even his own family."

"I understand sir."

Someone knocked yet again, and this time Magnus opened it before stepping aside as a tall, handsome man in his prime walked in. He looked at them both before speaking.

"Mr. Adams, I trust that our guest has explained himself to you?"

"He has, my lord. I'll take my leave now. Connor, we will talk later. You can come meet the family later this evening."

With a nod from Connor, Magnus quickly left the room, leaving the two humans alone.

"So, Connor, I see you are healing well."

"Yes… my lord. My dragon and the healers managed to revive the flesh."

"Please, I'm not a lord. Even though I should be."

"Wait, who are you?" Connor asked, genuinely confused at the man.

"Sorry, I guess I didn't formally introduce myself. I believe you are familiar with my brother, Tostig. I am Sigurd, his younger brother."

"So, Sigurd then, what are you doing out here?"

"Like these basitin, I too was exiled from my home. But also like them, I'm hardly alone."

"Just how many did Tostig exile?" Connor asked, concerned about what his lord does to those he doesn't agree with.

"Why don't we take a walk? Get those legs moving again."

Bundled up for the winter cold, Connor for the first time in days stepped outside into the bright sun. Zephyr quickly followed, landing nearby. The sight before them was amazing. A village which could easily mirror Callow, except that there were basitins instead of humans, and an even stronger presence of wolves. Toward the center of the town was a large fortification, a fortress of stone that shone in the winter sun, frost sparkling in the low light.

"Quite something, isn't it?" Sigurd commented as he closed the door.

"Is that your castle?" Zephyr asked through her mental link. Connor thought that might freak out their host, but apparently Sigurd was familiar with it.

"Hardly. No, that's the main fortification for the basitin should they ever come under attack, though it hasn't happened in centuries. Come, I'll show you two where my compatriots are at.

As they walked through the town, it was a strange feeling for Connor. Sure, he was a little on the tall side for humans, but in the village, he felt far bigger. The doors were about six inches too low; he stood a head taller than everyone in the street. Even things like counters and chairs were just a little undersized. Usable, but different from what he was used to. That changed as they traveled to the outer sections of town. With more wolves, the town felt more "normal". Finally, they got to the outer wall. Just beyond it was a wood and stone fort of sorts, though it was more of a glorified trading post. Following Sigurd, the two made their way to the stockade.

"You see, that is what two species can accomplish when they work together, and that is precisely my vision for Callow. If that town is to grow into a trading center unrivaled in the north country, we need to set aside our petty squabbles with the wolves."

While Connor certainly couldn't disagree with the logic, the biggest problem is that, at least in the teenager's experience, keidran and humans don't really get along as equals. Sure, Shadow and himself had a good friendship, but that was rather exceptional in human lands. Out here on the northern steppe, Wolves controlled the land and water, humans mostly just survived. In fact, pretty much every human out here was either a miner, lumberjack, or in some trade which supported those industries. This was quite different from his homeland with large fields of grain, flocks of sheep, herds of cattle and horses, the warm, spring-fed streams and lakes. Maine certainly wasn't quite as nice as the lands around Morlin, but the brutal winter winds made him miss home.

"Well, my lord, I don't doubt that wolves and men working together up here could build something grand. But in my experience, the tricky part is getting them to cooperate."

"You've certainly struck at the heart of the issue, young Connor. But hopefully your stay with us will change your outlook."

Just then a burly female wolf walked up to Sigurd. Besides the usual attire that wolves wore, which is to say, very little; she had a hammer in her hand, thick leather gloves, and an apron. She was also stained head to toe in soot, all trademarks of a metal smith. "My lord, who is this outsider?" She said. Her voice was feminine, in a way, but still low like a wolf's.

"Ah, Helgi, this young man is Connor. A member of Callow's guard, and our honored guested until he has rested and recovered enough strength to return home. Connor, this is Helgi, she is the armorer for my followers, both man and wolf, not to mention one of the best blacksmiths in the North." They then embraced and kissed passionately. "Oh, and she's my wife."

"Wife?" Connor thought, but before he could think of anything else, he saw the wolf lock eyes with him. Helgi looked him up and down, then immediately picked up on of his arms to give it a slight inspection, before walking around, analyzing every inch of the teen's frame.

"You're the one that survived the blizzard?" She asked.

"Uh… yeah, I guess."

"Then you really are the luckiest human this side of White Pass! No one as scrawny as you should have survived that."

"I did have help from a friend." Connor then called for Zephyr, who came down out of the sky and landed on his shoulder. The presence of a dragon caused Helgi to take a step back out of fear and admiration.

"A dragon? How in blazes did a mortal like you take one as a pet?"

Zephyr was none-too pleased to be degraded in such a way. Her eyes glowed as she issued a correction through her mental link. "I am no pet, wolf that is called Helgi."

"Easy Z. She is right though, ma'am. Zephyr is not a pet. Rather, she has chosen to live among us mortals for the time-being and is a member of my family. If it weren't for her magic, I almost certainly would have died hours earlier along with the rest of my party. Heck, I would have died months ago in a fiery battle on a ship."

The wolf did look apologetic. "My mistake then, apologies Z."

"It's alright, ma'am. Her name is actually Zephyr, I just call her Z for shorthand."

I could tell Sigurd was growing a bit impatient, and it was then that he re-inserted himself back into the conversation. "Well, with introductions out of the way, allow me to give you a tour through the fort and show you the rest of my people, human and wolf."

As we walked through the fort, it was obvious that despite the relatively small number of folks, they were dedicated and efficient. There was perhaps about two hundred humans and at least as many wolves. The main courtyard behind the gate was large enough for an entire company to train at once, and around the perimeter were various stalls and buildings. Armory, quarters, blacksmith, saddlery, livery, food storage, it went on. Toward the back of the fortification was a lodge not unlike the one in Callow, just smaller. Inside was a long fire pit to heat the place as well as tables and chairs running down both sides of the main opening. In the back, rather than some elaborate throne, was merely a long table with several chairs on a platform perhaps knee high.

"This right here is where our meetings and meals are. Those loyal to me never starve, never freeze, and always have my ear."

"So why aren't you ruling Callow then?"

"Well Connor, it's a bit of a story. Come, sit with me near the fire pit."

Helgi then gave the man a peck on the cheek before turning to leave. "I'll leave you boys alone, need to stoke the forge before she gets too cold."

As Helgi left, Sigurd reached into a box from behind his chair, pulling out two cups and warm mead. He poured Connor a cup, handing it to the teen as he sat down. Taking a long drink from his own cup, Sigurd stretched his neck before stoking the coals to bring about some flame near them both.

"So, you want to know why I'm not ruling Callow?"

"It's not because of your marriage, is it?"

"Well, I would be lying if I said that didn't factor into it, but there's more at play than just some simple hatred for keidran. You see, I'm actually the younger brother. So Tostig certainly has a legal claim to rule Callow."

"Then why were you exiled?" Connor asked, now very curious to know the story.

"You see, Tostig has always been… ambitious. Or at least that's how my father put it. In actuality, he is arrogant. With keidran especially, he views them as expendable labor, and that's the generous view he reserves for those loyal to him. But more than that, he isn't exactly compassionate towards people either. He was not particularly well liked by the townsfolk. When our father died, there was a choice to be made. The council chose Tostig, following the tradition of the law, but the people favored me."

"Did you come to blows?"

"Thankfully, no. If we had, I'm pretty sure we would have torn the town in half. For a time, we tried to both exist in Callow, but my brother grew jealous of my popularity. In order to consolidate his grip on power, he had me banished. What he didn't expect is that many of the townsfolk chose to follow me instead, especially the keidran. Helgi and I were already dating in secret, at the time. We both knew it would be a scandal if I had married her publicly in Callow, but out here there are no laws against it."

Connor thought back to Asher. He was glad to have a completely different relationship with the boy, there was no way he could ever grow jealous of such a good kid. "I- couldn't imagine exiling my own brother over something as simple as jealousy."

"Mind you, it wasn't mere arrogance. There's a lot of metal and minerals around Callow. That's why the town was built there instead of in a sensible place like the foot of a mountain or around hot springs." Sigurd then unsheathed his longsword. It glistened in warm orange hues from the glow of the fire. "This sword was made in Callow by Helgi. All from iron ore right under the town. Even my brother doesn't have such a blade."

"That does bring me to a question. You mind if I ask?"

"Ask you may, young Connor."

"You aren't content to live out the rest of your days here, are you? All the fires are going, your own wife is making armor right now. You plan to go to war against your brother, don't you?"

"Sadly, I don't see another option. Especially now with the siege of the city."

"Siege?"

"You didn't know?" Sigurd asked, puzzled why Connor would be so surprised.

"When we left in the boats, nothing had actually happened yet. I suppose the attack on the river should have been a clue, but no one in that town imagined being under a full siege so quickly, and during winter! Sigurd, if the town doesn't get those supplies, everyone is going to starve!"

"Actually, it's worse than that. Word just came to me this morning from the wolves laying siege to the city. One of the chief's grandsons came upon a rather unique situation. Apparently, my brother has kicked all non-humans out of Callow."

Connor's mind then went back to Shadow and Asher. Were both now out in the cold, freezing to death. Zephyr picked up on this as well. "Connor, we should get back and help!" She exclaimed, taking off and hovering in the air.

"Z is right. Sigurd, I need a fast horse now to get back there and—"

"And die? Connor, the wolves aren't letting anyone into the city. Heck, your uniform would likely get you killed before you ever stepped foot inside the gates."

"Well what am I supposed to do then?"

"Look, if it makes you feel any better, the keidran that have been banished are in good hands. Bjorn is the young warrior's name, he has been ensuring that they all have supplies and shelter, or at least as much as the snow wolves are able to give."

"That does make me feel better. If Shadow or Asher are among them, at least they've got people to look after them. But there's also my sister, Liz. She's now inside the walls of the city without any family. If nothing else, I need to get her out so we can leave."

"Leave? Where would you go in the middle of winter?"

"Well I'm certainly not about to let my family get dragged into a war! No offense, my lord, but a squabble between brothers shouldn't have gotten this far. The longer any of my family are stuck in or near Callow, the more likely it is that one of them will get hurt."

Sigurd then sighed. "So I take it you aren't interested in helping my people?"

"Sorry, my lord, but family has to come first. Besides, what help could I possibly be?"

"I was actually hoping you'd be able to help me negotiate a peace."

"Yeah right, like wolves and lords are going to listen to a teenage boy."

"Odder things have happened, young Connor. But I suppose we can broach this topic another time. How about I show you and your dragon back to Magnus' residence. The sun goes down quite early this time of year."

A half an hour later, Connor, Sigurd, and Zephyr arrived at a modest home made of stone and wood near the outskirts of the basitin village. It was one of many identical houses in a row on the narrow street. Behind them was the imposing wall, and all was under the shadow of the mountain, glistening in the evening light. After a heavy knock on the wooden door, Zephyr got the urge to explore though. "If you don't mind, Connor, I haven't had a chance yet to fly around town. Can I go?"

"Go for it, just find a window or something to make yourself known when you get back."

With a quick flap of the wing, Zephyr floated aloft and sailed up into the quickly fading light.

Sigurd patted Connor on the shoulder as Magnus opened the door. "A dragon asking a human permission to do something, now I truly have seen it all. Have a good night, Connor. I hope we can further discuss the matter of Callow in the morning." After tipping his hat to Magnus, Sigurd strolled down the street and into the dimming sun.

"Connor, please come in. I'd like you two to meet Shiloh's family. Inside, setting the table in the main room, was a basitin woman and her young daughter. Magnus, after closing the door, was quick to give introductions.

"This is my daughter-in-law and Shiloh's widow, Gwendolyn. As fair as springtime Avens and as fierce a fighter as any Basitin in the frozen north."

Magnus wasn't kidding. The maiden, if any basitin could be called such a thing, had fur as white as fresh snow, green eyes that could peer deep into the soul, and under that warm exterior coat the faintest lines of muscle tone could be seen. If she wasn't trained for combat, Connor would swear she was raised on a farm. Just then, a tug on Connor's shirt brought his attention down to the young warrior before him.

"And who might you be, young one?"

"I'm Tara. Are you the one they found in the snow?"

"Indeed I am, Tara. And it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Grandpa said you knew daddy. Did he come with you?"

Connor almost broke down at the thought but held back tears. She must have been about Asher's age, it seemed the machinations of this world either had the goal, or the nasty side effect, of making so many orphans. "I'm sorry Tara, but your father didn't come with me."

"Why not, where is he?"

Gwendolyn was quick to intervene before the young basitin could force a confession from their guest. "I'll need to tell you later, Tara. For now, let's make sure our guest feels welcome and comfortable. Why don't you show him the sword your father gave you?"

"Okay!" And the youngster was gone in a flash, off into the back of the house somewhere to find an undoubtedly sharp, lethal object. Connor was about to thank Gwendolyn, but he could see tears forming in the corners of her eyes as well. Compassion overtook him.

"Ma'am, I am so very sorry. Shiloh was a friend and is certainly a loss to us all, but I can't even imagine the pain you've had to endure in his absence, now only to find out in such a terrible way."

Gwendolyn wiped away the tears. "Thank you, Connor. Yes, it has been hard, though Magnus has been more than helpful in filling some of holes Shiloh left behind."

"When do you plan to tell her?"

"Tonight, after dinner. Magnus said you had her necklace."

"Right here with me, dear." Magnus replied, pulling out the heirloom from his pocket. "The boy carried it on his neck all the way across the continent."

Gwendolyn seemed touched at the thought of a complete stranger doing something so noble. "Was it his last wish that you get this back to us?"

"In a way." Connor said. "Shiloh didn't mention the necklace really, but he did want me to deliver the news, no matter how painful it would be."

"Well, I'm sorry that the task almost cost you your own life."

"If I'm honest, ma'am, I hadn't realized I was near a basitin village. Don't get me wrong, I would have sought you out eventually, but the plan was to wait out the winter in Callow."

"How did you know to take the necklace from my dear Shiloh after he had passed? I mean, if he hadn't mentioned it?"

"Well, that's a story on its own, miss, but the long and short of it is that I've got an adopted brother from the basitin isles. His mother didn't think I was listening in, but when she was dying and passed her necklace onto Asher, I realized that such an heirloom must be how members of a family identify each other."

"Yes, it tends to get passed down through the maternal line, though in this case it came from Shiloh's mother."

"I still miss my dear Sylvia." Magnus added in, looking up to the heavens as he clutched his heavy heart. "And now I've outlived my own son. It isn't right."

"No sir, it isn't. But it is the way of things. If I could have switched places with Shiloh in that battle, I would have, but his sacrifice allowed me to see my sister again. And now Asher will finally be reunited with his people… sort of."

"And if I knew my Shiloh, that's precisely what he would have given up his life for." Gwendolyn said, putting a hand on Connor's shoulder.

Just then, Tara came back into the room. "Look at this, mister. Daddy left it for me."

The young girl pulled steel from scabbard, revealing a short sword with a broad, single blade. To a human this would merely be a large seax, but to a young basitin it was surely lethal in close quarters. Despite the relatively simple look, the finish was as smooth as glass, reflecting the candlelight perfectly. It almost seemed to glow.

"Well, that is quite the blade, young one. Shiloh left it for you?"

She shook her head. "No, dad had it made for me before he left. Grandpa says there's magic in it."

"Really? Basitin magic?"

Tara didn't answer, instead putting the sword away then running back into one of the bedrooms. Chuckling, Magnus explained. "No, we basitin have no magic of our own. In fact, we can't use magic at all. But the snow wolves and you humans have all kinds of magical tricks and trinkets. Shiloh said he had the blade imbued with some kind of magic that makes the blade precisely the right weight and balance for the user. It's an excellent training tool for Tara that will adapt to her as she grows."

"Huh, I never thought that is something magic could do. But I'm also no expert in magic. I can scarcely light a fire with crystals, let alone use mana for more complicated tasks."

"Yes, Sigurd explained it to me when we first met. You humans all have the potential to use magic, but only a few of you truly master it."

"And those few are called Templar. They have favor with the king in Morlin Hall and have pretty much a monopoly on advanced magic. In some places, humans outside the Templar order aren't even allowed to learn magic beyond certain uses like cooking or healing."

Gwendolyn then leaned her head into the main room. "Food is done, I'll bring it out for you boys. Magnus, could you get Tara please? I don't know why she always takes so long to put stuff back."

The food was delicious, and compared to the salted meat rations the teen had basically subsisted on since that shipwreck in the spring the home-cooked dinner was practically a feast. However, he had enough self-control to not immediately dig in like some animal, instead opting to be patient and watch the table mannerisms of the basitin before him. It wasn't terribly different from how humans had a dinner meal, though conversations were quiet and shorter compared to when a bunch of men from the sea or forest got together. It was efficient if nothing else. Just as they were finishing up, everyone heard a knock on the window pane.

Tara's eyes widened when she saw who it was. "Is that a dragon?"

Magnus opened the window as Connor introduced everyone to Zephyr. "Yes, this is Zephyr, the last of Lady Nora's children. She has chosen to travel among and learn from us mortals."

Z's eyes lit up as she landed on the end of the table. "Thank you, Connor. It is a pleasure to meet you all."

Both of the ladies were confused. "How did—were you in our heads?" Gwendolyn asked.

"Apologies, Gwendolyn. In a dragon form, I cannot speak as others do, so dragons use a mental link between people to convey thoughts as if they were words."

"Cool!" Tara exclaimed. "What else can you do?"

"Well, at the moment not much. It takes a while to learn magic. For most dragons, it takes centuries to master a full set of magical skills."

"Ooh, can you breathe fire!"

"That I can do, but I sense your mother would prefer such a demonstration to be outside at a different time."

"Aww…"

"Trust me Tara, it's for the best. Zephyr is learning magic just as you are learning how to use weapons. It takes time, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess." Though Tara was still disappointed before coming up with a different idea. "Can I touch your scales?"

"Tara!" Gwendolyn spoke sharply. "Zephyr is a dragon, not some house pet."

"Oh, it's quite alright." Zephyr conveyed before allowing the young basitin to feel down her back and neck.

"So, not to pry, but what does Lord Sigurd want from you, Connor?" Magnus asked as the two young ones interacted.

"Apparently, he wants me to help him end this siege of Callow. Though I don't know his full plan."

"That's how he always is. If you ask me, that one makes up most of it as he goes. If he hadn't gotten in his brother's way so much, he probably would not have been banished. But that brings us to the important question, are you going to help him?"

"Well, my sister is still in Callow. The situation must be bad though, because Tostig has exiled all non-humans from the town. There weren't enough rations to last everyone through the winter when we left, so that is probably what drove the lord to make such a terrible decision. Asher and my keidran friend, Shadow, is probably among them out in the cold."

"If all that you've heard is true, young man, you're going to need some training. I might be old, but I know all the basics of war."

"I don't think there's time for that, sir. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the offer, but—"

"Right now, Connor, you're too weak to travel back out there. Even if Sigurd decides to go to Callow, it will be weeks before his followers are ready to make the journey. But if we take the time to train you, not only will you be better prepared for a possible fight, but you'll be back to full strength."

"Alright then. Sir, it will be an honor."

"The honor is mine, young man."

Meanwhile, Zephyr and the ladies were having a conversation of their own. Gwendolyn couldn't help but ask if the dragon had met Shiloh too before he died. "Zephyr, ma'am, did you—meet my husband?"

Zephyr's mind instantly traveled back to that spring. She hadn't hatched yet; however she could still feel his presence. Strong, bold, ready to go home. "I'm sorry, Gwendolyn, but I never met him in person. It is a great shame though, because he sacrificed so much to ensure others had their freedom, and his actions that night helped to save my life force from being drained away." Zephyr then shared the memory but hadn't considered who else might see. In an instant, everyone in the room saw a battle, a courageous warrior fighting an Adrakist, saving many lives, delivering a devastating blow before he himself was mortally wounded by the cult leader.

Magnus' face showed grief, but also pride. For Connor, it was an unpleasant and painful memory being relived yet again. He rubbed a scar on his arm where a wound had been months earlier. Gwendolyn was amazed at being able to see her love one last time, but that soon turned into deep sadness. It was too much for her and when the memory ended, the basitin wept. But for Tara, seeing her father die was reminiscent of many nightmares that had plagued her since Shiloh had left.

"Daddy!" She cried before running into the back of the house. Gwendolyn realized what happened. "Zephyr, did you let her see that too?!"

"Uh, yes...?"

"I hadn't told her yet! Oh, my poor girl! Tara, wait, let me explain—" Gwendolyn then chased after her.

Connor, recovered from the forced walk down memory lane, was none too pleased. "Z! Why would you show us that?"

"I-I'm sorry! I just wanted them to see Shiloh again."

"Z, you can't do that kind of stuff to us without asking first. That night is something I don't want to relive, ever. But what's worse is you just showed the poor girl how her father died."

Gwen then came back into the room in a panic. "Tara's gone!"