Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. There she was, a wreck among wrecks. Shaking her head as she sat there her thumb pushing against the edge of the table top next to her bed. Once more tears left her eyes to fall on the sheets and pillow beneath her. Shifting on her side she looked at the clock. Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. Coming this far was the hardest thing she had to do since him. Shaking her head she buried her face in that feather soft pillow. Shaking her head she brought her fist down on it as she screamed those tears of agony.

Sitting up slowly she still clung to that pillow as she curled into a ball. Sheets now draped over her head as she peered from over the pillow with those bright emerald pools. Their bleeding tears were signs of her shattering soul. Sobs and weeping simple broke heartedness. All of it was hard to handle. Hayden had given so much, only to loose everything in the end. Shaking her head she lifted her hand to brush through her hair as she sniffled lightly.

I'm running and I don't know why. That was six years ago. Six long years and she had done and finished her husband's work. She had managed to find the person behind his death and now she was stuck in a downward spiral of unhappiness. It was depressing in the least.

There she was. Run. Always running. Step after swift step the sweat rushing down her forehead and mixing with her blank expression. Panting for breath she never saw it coming. A black nozzle appeared out of a window and fire erupted from it's mouth. One shot, two shot, three shot, four. She was down. Blood of crimson formed and pooled underneath her before a black hole opened up beneath her.

Engulfed by the hole she was swallowed in the same instant the blood had stopped. Emerald eyes popped open of their own accord to stare at the blackened darkness. There was a gulp as she sat there fingers twitching as she arched a brow," Where am I" What happened" Where am I?" Turning on her side she coughed lightly as her hands shook heavily. Shaking her head she felt at her side. Four holes, for scar like holes. So that was where the pain was from.

The darkness faded and she appeared above a gaggle of things. The shock was too real for her and the darkness came again, perhaps she'd do better in a different setting. Time would tell. For now it was going to take reality some time to get her warmed up to the world of Rhy"Din, in fact, Hayden would have to rationalize with the fact that she was never going to get home. Perhaps this was just the change she had needed. For once no back up to bury her self in work. She'd have to rely on other things.

-Hayden Black, Female, Age...35, status" alive, occupation' Investigator in a sense. Welcome to Rhy"Din, Hayden Black. Enjoy your stay. Uh, Rhy'din" What?-

*** Few years later***

"Hayden" The boss would like to see you." Tony was standing at the entrance door of a room looking out over the well dressed Hayden. Black silks dawned her body, shades in her hair and at her head. Cigarette in her lips was stubbed and killed as it hit the silver ash tray next to her hand. Something was much colder then when she had first lost her husband.

Hayden turned on her boots and moved towards the door. Walking past Tony she placed a tender kiss to both of Tony's cheeks as she whispered," How is the old man?" Patting one of his arms she looked up before glancing at the entrance.

"Dying." Answered from Tony's lips as he repeated the too cheeked kiss. Nodding he stepped aside to allow her to pass. Holding the door open he remained silent and cleared his throat," He wants to see you alone."

Hayden nodded and passed under the frame of the door as she entered. The click behind her told that she was now alone, on her own. The man she sought for was laying in bed, his death bed. Respirator attached to his nostrils, eyes half opened, and a feeble, weak hand was waving her closer. Doing as was requested she moved forwards slowly as she whispered," Hey pops. The business you requested of me to take care of has been done. The garbage has been disposed of."

The old man shook his head but it was obvious, this was not why he had summoned her. Deep graspy breaths were being taken as he spoke feebly," Since I hired you, you have been a daughter to me. Always a daughter making me proud. Eh' Well now the time has come where you have proven your worth my daughter." Dangerous waves of coughing issued from him as he lurched forwards.

Rushing forwards Hayden eased the old man from the fit and frowned as she shook her head," You have always been kind and good to me like a father should be to their daughter. For that I am forever in your gratitude." Nodding again she gave him a reassuring smile as she leaned over to check the gages on the air keeping him alive.

"You have been family since day one. My only trusted family. The respect you've earned in such a short time with the other families is one that will never be lived down. That is why you are set to take my place Hayden. You. Since two years ago you've been my second, and when I go you will be the first, the chief, the captain. I know you will make me proud." He started to cough again but it was quickly silenced as before.

***One month later***

"Hayden" The boss is dead."

The phone was shut and eyes of emerald shut. Down the object fell as hands came to tangle in her hair and hold her head. Shaking it over and over there was a realization. Another man she treasured in her life, this time a father, was dead.

***End Flash Back***

Before he was taken away from it all...

He'd been working in the business as a runner for a few years. Get this, take it here, get out faster than anyone else. He was good at what he did, and anyone that played witness to a time he didn't escape was far too traumatized to say how he'd gotten out of it.

The beginning of his life...

He didn't really remember his family too well. Well, save one. They'd been dead since before he could remember, except for his great grandmother, who he always cherished but could never go and see, because of a few reasons he wouldn't understand until adulthood. He'd grown up in foster homes until he realized he could leave and get out into the world, maybe learn a little magic and join a gang. Sweet gig, right' What an ideal he had. Once he'd made it out of the urban areas with nothing more than a knife, he found out he'd fallen far from the top of the food chain.

It was on one particularly long day when he met Sycanthia. The Pixie had found him in a tree, half-starved and avoiding a particularly unhappy group of Kobold he'd tried to get some food from. She was the only person who'd ever taken care of him out of more than a sense of duty.

When she fluttered over to his curled-up form, she spoke in a tinklingly tiny voice that still rang with warmth and curiosity. "Boy, what?s happened to you?" Taran could barely force out a mumble, but it was clear enough what he'd been through for her to flutter off and return with small amounts of food and water.

She helped him back to his strength throughout the following weeks, and when he made his way back to the cities she happily agreed to stay with him. She was always the explorer.

Once he'd taken up smalltime jobs here and there, using the other street urchins to make some low-level connections, he made his way up through the levels. It was slow, hard, and sometimes nearly impossible, but he always found a way through. Having a Pixie for a companion didn't hurt, either.

Flash forward about ten years, and he's made his way into one of the higher-up crime families in the country. He was a runner, and he was the best. There were a surprising few that knew his name, and even less that knew about Syca. Her safety was always of the utmost importance to Taran.

He had heard of the woman, the one who'd entered high-up and only risen from there. He hadn't met her yet, but that was always something he waited to do. Not many stuck around long enough to get to know people outside their branch. He'd been one of the few.