To Face the Past; Search for the Spark That Leads Home [Snow, Flynn, Invite][NR]

Run... run... run... never stop; never pause. Circle the city; circle the edge of the lights and the sound and the stink of humanity. Circle and track, circle to find. The quickest route; the least amount of time. He didn't feel like dealing with anyone or anything else; just find what he was seeking then get out. Find it. He had to find it.

Then he could go home.

Then he could rest.

Yes... rest. Home, with them... Fix this mess, or repair the damage.

PING

Sonar triggered. Sonar flashing. He could see it now... he was... closer. Faster, push it faster; more energy spent. Force more active flashes; find that ping again...

PINGPING

YES! He was very close.... he could almost.... almost see a shape; just on the edge of his range. Turn, swing his body, sprint towards it. He had to find it. He had to know. He would know.

PING

What was that... familiar...

PINGPING

So loud... what was that noise... so loud... so familiar... why did it hurt to hear...?

Why was it bringing up memories... memories long forgotten. Flashes of battles, flashes of training, flashes of friends and family and people long gone from this world.

Why did her heart hurt so badly...?

PING

No... have to get away... so much pain... so much... too many memories... to much to face again...

A scent in the air, a scent from the past... familiar and so very wrong. It couldn't still exist... this world was so wrong... her mind was too far gone... remembering familiar and comfort now... So wrong...

Then why was it so strong... why was it filling the air...?

Why could she hear the sound of running...?

........


No.

nO.

NO.

NONONONONONONONONO!

It had to be a trick; it had to be fake. She had to run; she had to flee. Escape the curse of memories before she destroyed more in a rage. Run from the curse of her power and her life and her past and the present and the future that couldn't exist.

He couldn't be alive.

She shouldn't be alive.

Why was this happening now... happening again... the past coming to haunt her after so long...

It wasn't fair...

Moving... moving... dimmer... weaker...

No... don't run... please don't run.... can't lose it... can't lose this chance...

PIng

So fast... faster then he was... only one... only ever one was that fast... but it was impossible... He would have known then... he would have found...

Ping

Weaker still... had to move faster... had to move better...

A leap; a jump onto a low rooftop; a shift midair. 2 legs more agile then 4 in these tight quarters; speed better controlled and better used. More room to work; higher vantage to see, less in the way of the sonar tracking.

PING

Better...

He would find her... he would make sure...

Over a building, higher and higher and up. Closer, closer...

And then he was falling... falling down the side of the building; diving like he could fly; the third time in a day he'd used that trick; the third time he was glad for his cat reflexes and that he didn't have wings to slow him down. Down, down, down...

Tackle her to the ground, hold her and be sure...

BOOM!

Earth buckled; cement and concrete lifted into a crater. No pain; a soft landing on top of someone that cannot exist. Just like him...

Screams; terrified yells. No pain, of course. It would take more then a body at moving at terminal velocity from the top of a relatively short building to hurt her.

The pain was in her heart; in her mind. The smell... the smell... the feel... the crackle of the runes against her own powers... the mental connection that was one sided at best; a mind familiar and alien and so very wrong.

Everything was wrong.

EVERYTHING WAS WRONG!

"LET ME GO!"

Claws flashing, claws slashing and energy pulsing; raw power released in an effort to push the body away. Slash, destroy; end the pain; end the wrongness.

End your old friend again, murderer.

Nonononononononononono!

Have to get away, have to get free... can't be real... can't be happening...

That smell... that smell... the fur... the colorsthesmellstheenergytheauraitwasitwasitwasITWASHER!

"Snow..."

This was insane. This wasn't right. She was dead. They where ALL dead. They HADTOBEDEAD! He'd seen it all. It seen the bodies; smelled the char, felt the fire, felt the ache of the recoil. HE'D FELT IT. HE'D BEEN THERE. IT WAS REAL. THEY WHERE DEAD. SHE WAS DEAD.

I'm supposed to be dead too...

Flares of runes; flares of power. He knew what he had to do; this couldn't happen in the city. They would both be killed unless they got outside. The damn rules; those damn rules that where supposed to help but ended up making things harder for everyone.

A blast, a flash, runic energy forcing them across the ground at a speed that seemed impossible. He knew it would trigger alarms; trigger counter-measures. If he could keep the energy flowing; they'd be outside the main city and in the areas they could do this without being disturbed.

That smell... that smell... the fur... the colorsthesmellstheenergytheauraitwasitwasitwas...

It was...

It was...

It was impossible.

It was IMPOSSIBLE.

He had to be dead... if not in the... if not then... then age... then time... to long... no one could be left...

Nothing was left...

She'd killed them all... ended it all...

A word... a wheeze... tonal and scared and questioning and disbelieving. "Khashayarshah..." It couldn't be right.. he couldn't be alive... She didn't want to believe anymore then she could; her mind refused. Too much pain... to much time.

She barely noticed the movement; the sirens and the lights and the flares of danger. Danger meant nothing to her; she cared little for anything anymore. All she cared about was escape; escape from the proof that she had been wrong and that there was something left to hang on to; a reason left to survive. A chance to fix the mistakes...

A chance to; if only for a moment; make right the wrongs of her past.

Farther he pushed them; tighter he held. She could tear him apart without trying if she wanted; he knew that all to well. He couldn't have won that fight in his prime; now, even less of a chance. They where both old; but she was stronger... always stronger. She was the ruler; she was his alpha, always.

Or maybe... no longer. Too much time; to far through the ages. Maybe he was free of that... he wouldn't know until it mattered.

"No more... no longer my name... Flynn... now I am Flynn..."

Barely spoken; a rebuttal, almost. Rejection of that part of his life. That was him no longer; no longer the warrior; no longer the great beast feared by all.

No longer bound to serve. There was nothing left to be bound to; after all.

Outside the city; finally. Safe... time... they could talk. They could... fight; if it came to it. He would make her understand. He NEEDED to understand.

They weren't alone anymore.

They weren't alone.

If they could survive... maybe others could as well.

Maybe... maybe...

"No more... no longer my name... Flynn... now I am Flynn..."

Flynn...

Khashayarshah...

Impossible. Impossible. "IMPOSSIBLE!"

A renewal of the attacks; power brought to bare. The command of an alpha; everything she was; the first command in years.

"LET ME GO!"

She new it would work. She knew she would be free. She had to be free. If it WAS Khashayarshah... Flynn... whatever he went by now... he wouldn't have a choice. If this wasn't a dream, a hallucination, a fake... no choice.

"LET ME GO!"

That voice... the power... the power of the true alpha brought to bare. Once; once he would have had no choice. Once, there was no chance for a choice. In that split second; he had no choice; his arms relaxing of their own accord; his body shifting to move away as commanded.

And then his growl filled the air.

"NO MORE! NEVER AGAIN!"

His fist was raised now; aggression and anger and pride and everything he'd forgotten before brought to bare; fueled by ages of pain and grief. Fist balled; a punch thrown; nothing pretty or stylish or anything. Pure anger, pure power; directly to the side of the muzzle; the side of the jaw where defenses where weak and damage was maximized. More then enough to loosen teeth; shatter the skull of a lesser being. Painful... but if she was anything of her former self; only that; it wouldn't damage, much.

"GIVE IT BACK! GIVE THEM BACK! GIVE HIM BACK! GIVE HER BACK!

She would know what he meant. She would remember; or he would force it. Her fault... she'd taken everything from him. Her order, her words; he'd failed his people; lose everything on her word. Her order. Her pride.

He'd lost everything once because of it.

He was STILL losing because of it.

"GIVE IT BACK TO ME! I LOST IT ALL! I LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF YOU! TWICE I LOST MY FAMILY! GIVE IT BACK TO ME YOU DEMON!"

The word used... not truly demon; worse, rather. The closest translation was demon; but it was more... worse. The worse thing anyone could be called in all of the various dialects of their language. Demon, destroyer, betrayer... all and more and so much worse.

Sweet gods what...? That pain was real... that pain was... it was real in ways nothing had been in... longer then her memory could function. He was real. Everything was real.

In that moment of pain; clarity. Clarity of mind. Clarity of thought.

She wasn't alone. She WASN'T alone.

And then her heart shattered all over again.

And the physical pain ended and the madness returned.

Screaming. Screaming. More screaming. What... how.... he should have let go... he was letting go...

Resisting... resisting her command... but how.... how was that...

"GIVE IT BACK! GIVE THEM BACK! GIVE HIM BACK! GIVE HER BACK!

Him... Silver... by all the gods... Silver... no... he was... there was nothing she could do... his mind... his body... so much gore... so little left... ashes.. blood... nothing left...

The other... who... a female... who could he mean.... he'd never known many females he was friendly with outside of his cousins... beyond her.... who could mean that much to him...?

"GIVE IT BACK TO ME! I LOST IT ALL! I LOST EVERYTHING BECAUSE OF YOU! TWICE I LOST MY FAMILY! GIVE IT BACK TO ME...

Twice... twice... but he'd... he only had...

He'd moved on.

He'd found a new family.

And something... oh... oh gods... no... oh gods no.

"You... what... how....?"

No. He wasn't going to let this go. He wanted her to fight back. He wanted her to rage. He had to prove this; to himself, to everyone. To everything. He had to best her; he had to win. Break the control; break the conditioning. He had to break free; or else he was never going to be able to go home.

"FIGHT ME DAMN IT!"

Another punch; harder this time, hard as he could. Punch into a slash of his claws, unfair aim to the eyes. She was already blind in one eye; she couldn't afford to lose the other to his anger.

"FIGHT! YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE CHALLENGED! I WILL END YOU! I WILL END THIS HERE AND NOW! FIGHT BACK! FIGHT BACK!"

The point of his knee was used when he brought it to her gut; shoved deep and up; into her chest and compressing her ribs until he /felt/ the crack. If she wouldn't fight willingly; he'd force her on instinct.

"I LOST MY MATE BECAUSE OF YOU! I LOST MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE OF YOU! I CANNOT FACE THEM! YOU TOOK MY PRIDE! YOU TOOK MY FIGHT! YOU TOOK MY LIFE FROM ME TWICE OVER! THIS! ENDS! NOW!"

His head dropped; slammed against hers so hard the ground buckled again; a crack like a gunshot ringing through the air. His own skull crackled slightly from the force; given what he'd seen and felt her body do in reaction to his shots; hers was cracking as well.

White... sparks... white everything and so much pain. Sickening crack; sickening pain in her mind and body. He was serious... he was actually going to do it... a full challenge... he was insane. She had to kill him if he did this. He knew it too. He had to know it.

How could it have come to this... she loved him like a brother; he'd loved her like a sister...

Once... long ago.... before everything ended... before she'd betrayed them and ended their world...

Her ribs where raked, lungs punctured and skull smashed. Enough to kill a lesser being. Nothing, nothing at all to her. She could regenerate entire limbs in minutes if needed; had, on occasion. That was happening already; her body putting itself right; pain fading and breathing returning to normal; brain starting to work again.

Enhanced Healing:

Instinct now; the start of the feral rage rising; telling her to fight back, kick the impetuous pup back into place. Funny... he was older then her, not by much; but enough. Neither of them where pups anymore; long gone from those days. Was this really how it had to end... was this really how they had to do this; after all this time; to meet again only to kill each other?

"I don't want to fight anymore... Please, Khashayarshah.... I don't want to fight you..."

I still love you... don't you realize that? I never stopped...You are still my brother... She knew he couldn't hear her; his mind was too well protected; his natural shielding and the block of his mind blindness... but that had never stopped her from projecting to him.

Psychokineses:

"I don't want to fight anymore... Please, Khashayarshah.... I don't want to fight you..."

More rage. More pain and anger and confusion and just... everything. She didn't want to fight him? She really thought that low of him that she wouldn't even accept a true challenge!? He had EVER RIGHT FOR THIS! He was high enough status; he ranked high enough in their castes. He was alpha by blood, same as her. She might have been destined for more then he; once... but no more.

And then, a tickle in his mind; familiar and nothing and so far out of place. The tickle he felt when she was projecting; using her psychic skills. She was trying to say something to him; failing because of his blocks; his shields and his abilities.

Handicaps.

No... not here. Skills; ability. What made him special in his people. What saved his life, once.

Then why is it a handicap?

It... They are psychics, all of them. No way to compete. No way to find them when something was wrong.

That was never an issue before. You did just fine protecting them.

That was different. They could tell.

They could protect themselves; you mean.

SO COULD SHE, DAMN IT!

Then why do you blame yourself?

I... I... I wasn't there.

Nor could you have been. Nor could you have been with Snow and Silver. Not once, where you leaving a defenseless being walk unprotected. Your daughter was safe with her mother, was she not? How could anyone have known a vampire hunter of that caliber was stalking the streets; and too stupid to know they where protected by the masters of the land?

I COULDN'T FIGHT WHEN IT MATTERED!

Because you held yourself to a command that was laid down so long ago that you had forgotten it until that moment. Because you let it hold you. Because YOU forgot who you where, who you STILL are.

"NO. NO MORE WORDS. NO MORE STUPID WORDS. FIGHT ME. FIGHT ME!"

In that instant, a single tear, unnoticed. He was about to break; he was about to throw it all away; his energy flaring as he charged all he had left into his right hand; straightened like a sword and pulled back far. He was so mad with grief and pain and self-hatred that he was ready to end the life of his oldest friend; all because he had lost his way.

That... that energy... that burn... he wasn't going to listen, then. She'd seen him do this only once before...

It was terrifying. The blast... the blast took out an entire mountain. It would have been more; if there had been anything behind the one that fell. She'd never seen anything like it, before then; nothing half that powerful. If he was going to use that on her... nothing would be left. No healing... no divine energy... nothing would save her if he used that attack.

She would have to fight him... she couldn't die like that... not like that. There was no honor in it; no repentance.

Her own hand, shoved between them with the palm flat; energy charged and a hiss of air filling the void. She could still push him away; get space and do something. Get just outside of his combat ranges; the blind spots between close and long range that he couldn't fight in.

Explosion of wind; compressed air so dense it would shatter rock exploding between their bodies; easily bruising her flesh and forcing her deeper into the ground. It would be enough to break his hold; to force him back and away; long enough for her to scramble to her feet; kneel and steady herself.

Master Elemental Kinesis:

"Khashayarshah please! We don't have to kill each other like this!"

But just in case... in case he did was she expected, what she was almost certain he would do; her staff appeared almost from nowhere; retrieved from her back where it had been the entire time; hidden in her fur and waiting the chance to protect it's master. She could stop this with nothing more; if it came to it, she would kill him.

Wind screaming; ribs screaming; pain... more glorious pain. A spark of fight, he knew her skills well. He could guess her thoughts; almost smell her fear. She knew his powers as well as he did; maybe even slightly better. The blast of air.... gods it hurt. It hurt to feel those powers used against him. He'd forced it himself... this was true... but it felt like a betrayal none the less.

Do you really want to end it this way?

I don't care. It had to end.

Then end it. But make sure you don't become a monster because of it.

Monster...?

A twinge in his mind; something familiar. Ironwood; but not his bow, not his blades. Someone else's weapon. What was...

Oh. By the gods... the staff. That staff... her staff that sank fear into any and everyone that had ever seen it. Did he really want to risk his life fighting against that? All his energy was still charged to his hand; still ready for the attack that could end it all. He was better now; more experienced and so much more capable. Once... he would need contact to discharge the energy. Now? Fire it like a canon beam; if he had to. Loose his hand for a while... but doable.

Monster.

Monster.

What did he mean by monster...?

Was this... was this wrong...?

"Snow.... Why did you do it... why did you... make me stay behind...?"

A spark of sense finally? He was speaking normally, at least. It was a step in the right direction; if nothing more. Id she could keep him talking... he was a sensible man. He always had been. He was never the diplomat, sure; but he'd always been reasonable enough. Words before blades, before bloodshed.

"Why...? Why...? To save you, Khashayarshah. Silver and I.... we didn't think we'd come out alive; anymore then Auduro would have. He was going to die; and we where going to contain the explosion. Someone had to stay behind... someone had to lead the people out of the darkness. I made you stay... I needed you to stay behind... I trusted you, Khashayarshah. I trusted you more then anyone. Our people loved you; they would follow you without question; just as they had me."

Tears now; her own long forgotten; she'd long since lost them all; cried them every night until there was nothing left, until her voice was gone and her eyes bled and then more; the pain and her guilt laid bare to a world that didn't care; a world no longer her own. Tears for what had become of her friend; the pain she still caused him, after all this time.

"I was protecting you... I didn't know... none of us could have known what would happen that day. My anger... my weakness... I killed them all. I ended them all because I couldn't stop myself. Don't make the same mistake I made... you still have a choice, Khashayarshah. You always had a choice. I didn't... and you know that. It was my destiny; all of it. You had the choice to become so much greater then I; because you were never bound as I was. I tried... Khashayarshah I tried to free you that day.... I told you to stay behind because you would be free when I died... but I survived... and the order.... by the gods... all these years... the compulsion nearly killed you... I can see it... all of it... I'm sorry... so very sorry... I nearly killed you again..."

Her staff lowered; she understood now; all of it. He was fighting himself; not her. He wanted to see himself reflected in her; to kill her would be to end that side of himself; end who and what he was; his past and his truth and his own nature. She couldn't let him, she wouldn't watch him kill himself that way.

"Let it go, Khashayarshah. Let go of the anger. I release you, brother. I release you of all of it; your oaths and duties and vows. Be free, as you should have been so long ago. Be free, and find peace."

Nanalie had spent the past several hours positioned in front of Niala's TV, numbing her mind with Disney movies of all sorts. Watching every single one over and over again. Eventually, it had begun to help. The more and more she saw of the /good/ examples of things, the way things could look so bad at first, but turn out good in the end... well, it had begun to affect her mood for the good. Affect it good enough that she wanted to go out and find her father and make sure he was okay, and then possibly drag him home. With these thoughts she left Darkman Tower and began to travel... driven by her senses, straight to her father.

"Earth, sky. Day, night. Sound and silence. Dark and light. One alone is not enough you need both together. Winter, summer. Moon and sun. Lesson number one. Like a rock, Ha Ha, you must be hard! Ha Ha. Like a Oak, you must stand firm! Cut quick, like my blade. Think fast, Ha Ha, unafraid. Like a rock, Ha Ha, I must be hard! Ha Ha. Like a Oak, I must stand firm! Cut quick, like my blade. Think fast, Ha Ha, unafraid." Her feet carried her further and further, her small form dodging around buildings, street signs, people, carts, everything and anything that could be in her way. When it was too big to move around she hurtled it, or slid beneath it. Anything to keep herself moving. She was already almost there, out of the city, and closer to where her father was...

"Okay, I'm ready! Aha, but you're still out of balance. You're only have half way there. Like a cloud, you are soft. Like bamboo, you bend in the wind. Creeping slow, you're in peace because you know it's ok to be afraid. Like a cloud, I'm am soft. Like bamboo, I bend in the wind. Creeping slow, I'm in peace because I know it's ok to be afraid." Her voice carried as she moved closer, she didn't bother to keep herself quiet: she wanted him to hear her coming.

"One alone is not enough, You need both together.. Winter, Summer, Moon and Sun.. Lesson Number one! Like a Rock! You must be hard! Like a Oak! You must stand firm! Cut quick! Like my blade! Think fast! Like a Cloud... I am soft.. Like Bamboo... I bend in the wind.. Creeping slow... I'm at peace because I know.. it's ok to be afraid.. You can fly.. You have to learn.. Lesson Number One..." She came to a stop, both her father and the other female in sight. Niala's mental magic began to unravel, and her older form began to shrink, hair growing back out again, until she was once more her child-like self: clothing changing to an overly large white long sleeved shirt with sleeves that hung down over her hands, and long baggy white pants that covered her bare feet. A soft giggle escaped her, as if the whole process tickled. She peeked through the long bangs that had fallen in front of her face, staring at her father, but not moving closer.

Another voice; familiar and not; tugging at his heart and pulling his attention away from where it mattered like nothing should have. Nothing could have. Nothing but his family; but it was wrong, too old. The voice was just too old. A smell now too; familiar and not; too old to be right, changed and warped and not right. What was going on; what was that? A trick of his mind? Some new hellish ability of one of the all powerful beings that ruled this land?

Or maybe; maybe something else. Maybe... maybe he was wrong and it wasn't that anything was wrong but his perception. It wouldn't be the first time; not even the first time that day, so little time had passed sense everything had gone wrong.

A flick of the eyes; glance around; focus on the girl standing there and bythegodsitwasNanalie. It really was her. He could see the residual energy; something had happened to her; been done to her. But the energy... familiar. Almost... was it Niala? A half biskmatar could do damn near anything; it was possible. He'd have to ask; eventually.

And then he realized what she was seeing and almost melted. He'd not left the ready; he was still focused and prepared to attack; arm raised and glowing with deadly energy; seemingly about to attack someone that wasn't even putting up a fight. Gods... that was it... that was the warning. He was turning into a monster... had been the entire time; all over things he was unable to fix himself.

The facade shattered; everything, shattered. Snow words... Snow's glorious, soothing words; they'd finally sunk in; finally done something inside of him. The order, the seal; everything her final words before the fall of the world... it was breaking; and he knew he'd be okay; they'd all be okay. Much work needed to be done; apologies and heartaches and so much pain... so many wrongs.

The rune energy fade; dispersing back into his body and signalling the end of his rampage. He'd done what was needed; he'd finished the task. He stood at a crossroads now; between his past and his future. In that moment; he realized he could have both; he didn't have to destroy himself to have anything. Stupid, childish anger; gone now.

He could still be Khashayarshah.... he could still be Flynn. He could still be who he was and was always meant to be.

He could have his peace; now. He was free; finally. His family was his; he would make sure of that. And now... he could share his happiness with her; his oldest friend and oldest family; if she would accept that; after all he'd done. Something told him this was their last meeting for a while; but at least they knew the other was alive; they could find each other if needed.

"Nanalie... come here... please?"

What was this now; a random stranger come to watch? Strange, she seemed... oddly familiar; but she knew she'd never seen her before. This was new; really. She was about to say something; an admonishment or request to leave them be when the newcomer changed; seeming to de-age right in front of them. That was definitely a new one; some sort of strange magic or skill never seen before? Or something else entirely?

The shock from Khashayarshah-... No, Flynn, that's what he wished to be called now, Flynn; the shock from Flynn was enough to have her confused even more; she could read him well enough to see the confliction in him. Had he seen someone do this before? Was he familiar with it?

And then he was addressing the child by name and asking her to come closer; the last of his aggression and fight draining out of him like water in a broken basin. Stranger and stranger.

Wait.

The girl looked...

Oh.

Oh...

She was related to him, somehow. By the looks of it; now that Snow was paying attention properly... she was a direct descendant. Could she be his daughter?

"Kha-.. Flynn; who is this?" She'd heard the girl's name; but that meant little to her mind. She was curious as to the exact relation, more then any name or title.

Nanalie hesitated a moment, staring between her father and the unknown female, her amber colored gaze flickering between the two. It was clear to her they'd been fighting or at least that her father had been fighting the female, as it wasn't that hard to figure out. But now... now it seemed as if things were peaceful again.

Bare feet began to move across the ground, and within seconds she was standing by her father, reaching up at him, wanting picked up. A tear trailed down her cheeks as her emotions, which had been so locked away and so hidden, came to the surface. She wanted to be a little girl again, wanted to feel safe, feel like she was in her own little world where there was no danger, or harm. Where she didn't have to worry about anything or anyone. Where they were all happy.

"Daddy!", the word wasn't in English as her singing had been, and she sniffled softly.

Gods; why had he ever walked out on this? He really was a stupid old cat sometimes; no amount of blame for old wounds could make up for that. He dropped to a knee; arms outstretching to pull her closer; tight hug filled with apologetic purrs and soft tones of love and comfort. He'd make up for his stupidity; he had too. He owed her that much; owed them all that. Arms shifted around her form; moving to where he could lift her easily and safely; holding her to his chest like the child she had become again; nuzzles to her hair and growing purrs showing just how soft hearted an old soldier could be sometimes. "Daddy loves you, Nanalie... he always loves you. I am sorry I left... I was sick... I had forgotten myself... nothing can excuse what I did; but I swear, nothing will ever hurt you again. We will be a proper family again; no matter what it takes."

He was happy now; or as close as he could be until Demi was okay again. He felt better now; he was sane enough, and not half dead for all the stupid self-loathing bullshit he'd pulled. This close to Snow and Nanalie; he was safe from the degeneration; the draw of the two enough to keep him healthy; if not at full strength. That could wait for later.

This attention focused solely on his daughter lasted a good few minutes; before he felt like answering Snow's question; focusing on anything else, if even the tiniest bit. "You have guessed by now; haven't you old friend? She is my daughter; she is part of why I fought so hard... why I survived. You know the pain... you can guess what happened. I was lucky... in a way. My mate survived; in a way... but the death was in the details. Memories locked away, maybe even gone forever. You can understand, yes."

Another affectionate nuzzle to his daughter, "Nanalie, would you like to meet your family? Snow is... for lack of a better word, your aunt." Close enough; Flynn and Snow where cousins; raised as siblings. It would do for now.

Yes, that did make perfect sense; everything was clear now. The madness; she knew it all too well; as she'd dealt with it every moment of her waking life for thousands of years. That she was even half sane now was a testament to the power of family; the bond between herself and Flynn. Maybe this was why she ha survived; because of him. But that didn't explain the burst of sadness and anguish she would randomly feel; centuries apart and never in the same places. It couldn't have been from him; she couldn't read his emotions unless she could see his body language. There was something, someone else out there; tied to her in ways she was slightly afraid to explore. It couldn't be Silver; that much she was sure. Maybe... maybe one of the Biskmatar she'd been close too? They had survived, in small numbers. She'd found half and quarter bloods through the years; but never a full blood; never one of the originals. Maybe there was one; an old man or woman left. That could have done it; she was apart of all the original generations; if one survived it would keep her alive.

"She is so young; to have found a family after all this time... a miracle. A blessing. Nanalie... a beautiful name at that. But she is... half blood? Nobility still; as we both are; but she is not human; nor Biskmatar. She is... elder race; one of them; I can sense that much from her powers. She has much potential; maybe even more latent power then I. Amazing, really. To be that powerful at that age..." She was musing out loud; old habit from an older being. Habit that died hard; even after all this time.

Nanalie sniffled softly, burying her face into his neck as she closed her eyes tightly, arms wrapping around his neck and shoulders as much as they could. She spoke after a moment, softly, "You left... and then mommy remembered who grandpa was, or at least some of him, and she left to go follow him around encase her memories came back that way..." Another sniffle escaped her, but she was calming down now, happy and content in her father's arms.

"So Niala had me come into her suite, and she kept an eye out for me.. and when she knew I wanted to leave the tower she made me look older because she said that would keep the.. bad people... away, but she wouldn't tell me who the bad people were. I think Niala is trying to come up with a way to fix mommy because she can imagine anything and it becomes real.. so she thinks she might be able to imagine mommy back to the way she was."

After another moment she lifted her head up and shyly looked at Snow, she blinked a few times, gave the smallest shyest of smiles and a soft "Hello", and then stuck her head back into her father's neck.

"She is safe with him; and he can do more for her then I could. Likely more then I ever can; with all his abilities and such. Sometimes it is better for the one with more ability and experience to be the one to do the most; love. But we will go to them; help out now, yes?"

A flare of his pride had him smirking like a Cheshire cat; it felt good to hear Snow praise his daughter that highly. Snow was the master specimen of their race; the closest to perfection they could naturally achieve. Or she had been; lauded as. Time and experience had shown him how wrong the people where to almost worship her the way they had; she was no different from any of them, really; just more powerful in her gifts.

Nanalie's shy reaction wasn't unexpected; she'd led a fairly sheltered life until very recently; he wouldn't call it a mistake, either. She was happy and healthy and hadn't known anything of the harshness of the world until some pissant hunter decided to end that happiness; and then he was ended himself. Justice, of a sorts. There was no way to return to that exact life; but he'd make sure that they where as close as possible. He'd have to work on introducing her; slowly; to the world, but now wasn't the time. "We can get you two better acquainted another time. I believe it's time to find her mother and grandsire; we have business to finish. Snow; I do not live in this city, normally; I reside on the resort island, Sugure no Shima. If you ever wish to find me; I am likely on the beach, or in the cherry groves. They... remind me of home; in a good way. Please... come find me, one day? We have much to discuss."

He was ready to move on; ready to end this painful experience on a good note; and hopefully move on to fixing the mistakes of earlier. He missed his mate; he wanted her back; and standing here reminiscing wasn't going to make that happen. Sadly.

A smile and a wave; he wasn't about to bow while holding his daughter; nor did he feel any real need to. They where friends, family; she wasn't his master anymore. He wasn't bound to her; age and time and experience and her blessed words had seen to that. He was free to interact with her like she was anyone else he loved and cared for; and nothing more. It was a good feeling, really. A turn, still holding his daughter tightly; soft words for her ears only as he began to walk away; tail flicking and swishing happily; "Let's find your mother, love. Show me the way..."

-exit-

Ending things on a good note; short notice and with little fanfare. Classic. He was going to be fine, if he was that recovered; that normal again. She listened to his words; his request and the offering of another chance to talk, to make up for lost time. It sounded... good. It sounded like something she'd have to take him up on; but not that day. Not likely anytime too soon. She needed time to recover herself; time to process everything that had happened and make sense of everything.

"Of course, old friend. I would relish the chance. Until we meet again."

Simple words; acknowledging and an agreement; as good as setting a date. She would return; she would hear his stories of how he'd survived; and share her own. A happy day to look forward too.

A wave, a smile, and she was gone; seemingly to vanish like smoke in the wind. Nothing special; just a burst of speed; something she'd been famous for in her youth; touted at the fastest being alive; long ago. She would give him space; put some distance between them; that way he could work unhindered; without her abilities interfering. While her sanity held out; she would go out and enjoy herself some; a good meal and a hotel for the night, maybe two. Creature comforts that couldn't be allowed when she was out of her mind. It felt.... good; to be sane for a bit. The pain was.... not gone; but diminished, highly. She could handle it, for now. She could allow herself some measure of happiness; same as he was. This was a turning point; she could sense it. Things where going to change, and soon.

She welcomed it.

-exit-