He had taken to the skies this day. Cerise had released him from his lessonns knowing he was restless and lonely. She must've felt the same way. They both cared about people and they both missed them.

He hadn't seen his kitten in so long it hurt. He had to train and there was much to do with the House. Today was his day however, and Cerise had given him the location of the Pard. He could see her again.

The thought made him take wing and to the skies in the hopes of spending some time alone with his girl, his kitten.

He did not see the bolt until the searing pain ripped into his shoulder. The force of the hit and the blessed object knocked him from the skies above the Isle.

Tree branches slowed his fall but he still hit the ground with a sicken thud and a groan of pain.

In shifting her position so she could climb out of the tree, her attention diverted to the skies in a different direction. She frowned as her eyes narrowed then a smile broke across her features. It was HIM! She stretched, her hand still holding to the smaller branch. Her other hand waved back and forth in order to catch his attention and let him know she was there.

Her eyes widened in horror when she saw him jerk in the skies. Her heart leapt to her throat as her gaze followed him falling from his flight. Fly, Damien. Fly .. you ... you can .. Inside her mind she willed him to fly. The silent kitten screeched a horrified howl when she witnessed his falling into trees and out of sight. Nooo! She slid from the tree, jumping from perhaps higher than she should have. Aret landed hard but she shook her head to clear it of the jarring effects then shot off like a dart toward the location where he'd fallen. Her heart pounded in her chest. No no no no ...

She was able to zero in on him without too much trouble. Aret knew his scent and although the wind toyed with her that day, she was still able to find him. She came to a skittering halt when she saw the man with the bolts. Her eyes narrowed and the hair on the back of her neck rose. She didn't think. She howled an infuriated shriek and launched herself at the man without thought to her own safety.

The hunter did not expect interference in his plans. Nor did he expect to be tackled by the little bundle of fury that the boy cherished. The situation started to spiral out of his control faster than he could plan another course of action.


Were the shadows gathering and taking form in one spot?

All he could do was grab her by the scruff of her neck and toss her into the boy. It would give him enough time to regroup and end them both.

He was not pleased by the turn of events though he started noticing the changes in the environment. This was taking too long and if he didn't finish this fast, he would be facing worse.

He sighted on the two.

He had twisted just enough to take the brunt of the impact. As hurt as he was, he instinctively moved to protect Aret. The demon in him was infuriated. The hunter had tried to hurt his mate.

His eyes were glowing read, though the growl that had been rumbling though him was cut off by the building power... He whispered only one word as his eyes widened to the shape forming behind the assassin.

"(vqw) Mother."

He was getting tired of the girl interfering. Once again she managed to tackle him.

Only this time the tackle was met with a searing pain through his back into his heart. He looked down at the sword protruding from his chest.

"Frak..." Was the last word he uttered as his soul was claimed from his body.

Aret felt herself connect with her target, her teeth jarred and her breath left her but she didn't care. She didn't hear anything that was said, her head overwhelmed with the moment. As she struggled to regain herself, she felt the man's body change. She also got a new scent that filled her senses together with the blood and hunter. She blinked, eyes looking beyond the man to the woman behind him. Aret swallowed, realizing the man was dead from the sword held by the woman. Instincts and nerves still on edge, she didn't think again .. Aret just reacted with a hiss as she pushed herself away from the now dead threat. She kept herself between Damien and the unknown woman, her arms spread to shield him the best she could.

Different things started clicking into place, different things she heard but hadn't realized she'd heard .. scents that mingled and seemed to fit. With the sword put away, she was starting to relax a bit. She kept backing up until she bumped into Damien. That was about the moment when the red-haired woman asked "Child, will you let me tend to my son?"

Son? Aret sucked in a breath and looked over her shoulder at Damien. He was hurt! She scurried around behind him and put her arms around him, nuzzling her face into his neck from behind. Her rage left her leaving her drained and worried and whimpering. She couldn't lose him!

He really hated feeling weak after being healed with the soulstones. He closed his eyes resting against Aret. His hand lightly stroked along her arm.

"(vqw) Damien, are you going to introduce your lady to me?"

He opened his eyes and looked at his mother in all seriousness. Would she accept Aret?

"(vq) Mother... This is my love, Aret. Aret, this is my mother, Natolii."

She watched the girl with interest taking note that she did not speak. She seemed intent on comforting Damien though.

"Mother... This is my love, Aret. Aret, this is my mother, Natolii."

She watched as the girl seemed to want to hide and gave a little finger wave. There was a smile on her lips that was warm and amused.

"Well, Aret. It seems Damien has found someone that is fierce in his protection. I am very pleased to meet you at last."

He could feel the shakes settling in his kitten. As weak as he was, he managed to sit himself up so he could wrap his arms around her.

He then looked over at Natolii, "Maybe we should get out of the open?" He wanted to take Aret away from this place, if only for a little bit until she was calm.

The older woman nodded and opened a gate to their home. "You are welcome to come, Aret." She had said in that soft voice of hers.

He held Aret close to him and murmured softly, "(vq) We're safe now, Aret."

He knew his kitten was scared and he wanted to shield her. He leaned a bit on her, still trying to regain his strength. He really hated the soulstones.

Aret was so tiny when compared to him. Nat regarded his girlfriend as he comforted her. She would talk to him later about a few things. Some talkes were long overdue.

They moved through the portal to his mother's house in Rhydin City. He kept an arm wrapped about her as they moved, wanting to keep her close to him. He may have been injured, but he knew how fragile she could be. He would not remind of the fight, instead enjoying the closeness after so many days away.

As they walked he spoke softly, "(vq) I've missed you so much, kitten."

Once they were home, he guided her to his room. He was in a mood to lay down and cuddle with her. Been so long since he was able to hold her close.