The glowing form of the valley's famous fostering mother was wandering about aimlessly through the terra, head low in defeat and something nigh unto utter despair. Why? What was happening to her? First Ying, now Moon Spirit. She was afraid to see anyone else, for fear they would not have their own faces. What if her children were strangers to her? Or Azul? What if Moon Spirit's face was gone forever?

Never in her life had Karai felt so low. She was even beyond tears now, her eyes were red but she could not cry anymore. Where was Ying, where was Moon Spirit? Where was someone who could tell her things would be alright?

She shook her head silently, and eyed the cold and fast-flowing river. It was still cold with the winter, if she lay there long enough... well, she would go to sleep, and it wouldn't hurt anymore. With a sigh, she stepped into the stream and lay down, submerging herself til her nose was barely above the water, and closed her eyes, waiting for sweet oblivion to claim her.

She moved like swift lightning through the land that was rightfully hers, and as she leapt over a log, the scent of Karai came to her nares. She chaged directions without a second thought, and as her eyes landed upon her silver sister, she let out a cry of despair. Racing forth, she grabbed onto Karais scruff dragging her out of the water. As Karai was removed from the water, the white mother glared hard into her friends eyes, anger filling her yellow depths. Karai, what has gotten into you?! I know you can't remember, I know you don't know what they did. But why would you do that? The anger melted, leaving in its wake tears of pain. Your all I have now. Azul, hes disappeared. I don't know where he went. Zhener, hes gone to. I have only Kekochoi and you. She whispered the last part, pain tearing at her heart.

It was so cold... she shivered, trying to remember why she was cold, but she couldn't get her brain to function. She vaguely felt the pressure of fangs on her flesh, not peircing but there all the same. She ignored it, because it was only pressure, and even that was fading. The blue eyes remained closed.

But then, the world became infinitesimally warmer around her, and "Karai" came trickling back into her, a peice at a time, until she finally remembered why she was so cold, and words reached her harks, this time making sense. Her orbs flashed open, glaring with anger at Moon Spirit, with hatred glittering at their depths, though that, at least, was not directed at her friend. The hatred... that was for herself. But her voice was soft and dangerous, snarling slightly as she fought to make her brain form words. I canshhh... Whatd'you know, eh? You... you dunnno haffffffkkkk And she scowled, forcing her brain to think, starting again as her body shuddered convulsively. You don' know half of it... I CAN remem'er! Tha's jus... just it. I remem'er... an'... when I wan'ed so... so badly ta for... forget it. So man'... many things... things... things... past... Rae... Angel knows... Angel's Sin... And she stuttered to a halt, realizing even with her cold-shocked brain that she was making next-to-no sense.

But she turned her eyes up at Moon Spirit's voice, hearing the pain creep in, even though her friend did not want her to hear it. She sighed, and it shook her thin form, both with cold and with complete despair, causing her to hack painfully. But she bucked up, voice soft, though it was interupted by more coughing. I.. cough I remem'er... a... a pre'ty w'ite face... cough, cough wif... with a silva moon... an' a 'eart of gol'...

The trembling started again. Why was it so cold? She coughed spasmatically for a few moments, spitting out a little bloody phlegm. The past few moons were finally catching up to her. She had lost too much weight, had no nutrition. She was weak, she had not slept... and the cold from the river was finally bringing it all together. Karai was quite sick. But she turned her eyes desperately back up to Moon Spirit.

An'... an' she's my fren... my friend. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, and she buried her nose in the snow, coughing still. Ow... How can... how can you ask...ask me that? Knowin'... when ya know tha' my friend is gone? How... how can you? You... you sound like 'er. Ya even... smell... like 'er. But your face... oh... And she closed her eyes, for the face that was on Moon Spirit... the one that Karai saw... it was too much to bear. Her mind was fading again, heading toward unconciousness as she hacked some more. But she clung to the light, forcing herself to look up at Moon Spirit. Rae... Rae why? I loved you well... I... I didn't mean to... And she lost her strength, head dropping to the snow, though she had not yet blacked out. She had simply lost the strength to talk anymore. She continued to cough, ragged and harsh, coughing up more blood and phlegm.

Sadness swept over the female. Karai...I am Moon Spirit. I have the moon, right there on my forehead. I may not have the heart of gold you speak of, but I know that it beats strong just for you. I am Moon Spirit, Karai. I'll prove this to you. When you first came here, a male came as well and tried to kill you. I asked not his name, but aided you in your kill for he was the one who raped you. I know that your children all love you, that everyone does. You went to live with Eytan, for he was a friend of yours. She came forward, and a slip of pink came from her mouth as she carressed her dearest friend with her tongue trying her hardest to soothe the silver mother.

She looked up at the kind voice of her friend, though she could not raise her head. She listened carefully to everything that she said, trying to force her clouded brain to wake up and do something. What finally caught her attention and made her eyes widen was the mention of Siyamak. The devil. And... the father of her pups. There was only a very small group of wolves who knew that particular fact, for she had never chosen to share it. She began to think about the possibilities, wondering... Finally, she spoke, still very jumbled, but this time at least her mind was functioning. Aye... there were only a few at... there then. There was... Azul, and he you can't be... you don't... smell of him. And both your pups... yours and mine. The mountain cat... an the lynx... She frowned because she could not force her brain to produce those names, though she knew them well. But she let out another round of coughing, still spitting up every now and again, and continued. And Aaka... but you cannnppp... you cannot be Aaka. Aaka couldn't... doesn't... care a drop for my life. No... not anymore. Maybe once... And she faded off, turning up to look at Moon Spirit, who for some reason, still wore Rae's face.

I am loved... yes... but not by... not all my children care. You are Moon Spriit... my fren... friend, yes... but you do not... all my children... you do not know them. Only... just the last four...

A tear she couldn't fear ran down her cheek, remembering, as she coughed and hacked up some more. I can... cannot... I haven't... no strength right now. Maybe... perhaps later... She was fading fast, swirling down toward the dark, but fighting her hardest to remain concious. Then... later... I will tell...

A dark, faded shadow soared across ground, flashing over the form of the two wolves. And from above, a very distant voice boomed down- the words inaudable from such a height but sounding very exuberant none the less. Having spotted two of his friends, the eagle folded his wings partially and went into a circling dive, rattling his beak off about something all the way down.

Giant sepia wings flashed open a few yards above the ground as the eagle made his usual rough landing. Rousing his feathers and giving himself a quick shake, Zhener hopped towards Karai and Moon Spirit as he began at once to finish the story he had started talking about from the sky, "...en zhen, I vas zhinking 'She 'as big beak'. But zhen I says to self, 'Don't say zhat to her, or she be mad. Maybe take offense, ja?' So instead, I says..." The eagle paused as he craned a long neck upward, twisted his head quizically to the side as he gave Karai a long look. "Karai, vinter is no time for swiming, ja? Nizer zhe summer... but vinter is vorse." He said, finally coming to notice that she was wet. Looking to Moon Spirit suddenly, Zhener cocked his dark head to the opposite side, having an inkling that something might be wrong with this picture. "Vait... somezhing vrong?"

Her eyes lifted to Zhener and a soft smile lit across her face. She'll be fine, dear friend. Tell me more about your friend that you met. She began to lick Karai's fur, trying to dry it out for her and prevent hypothermia.

At the familiar voice of Zhener, Karai flinched her eyes shut, dreading that some other face would be on her old friend. But when she dared to open them again, his face was firmly on his shoulders, and she sighed a little in relief. She was still coughing uncontrollably, but she did her best to smile up at Zhener and reassure the bird. Never... never you mind, dear Zhener... I'm... I'll be okay. Tell me... where... what have you... done?

The words were still a little cold-shocked and confused, but at least they mostly made sense now.

She lay next to her friend, giving Karai her body heat. She set to licking her friend, taking more of the moisture from her, pink tongue carressing and gentle. She waited for Zheners words to start flowing once more, giving them something to talk about. He always had amusing stories to tell.

He was not certain he should be here, but Ying couldn't stay away. Karai had seemed so broken, so lost. He wanted to help her. As he saw Moon Spirit, the male halted, shifting from foot to foot. Ah...I didn't mean to intrude. He said softly. His black and white face was certainly an odd sight, just as his orange eyes were.

A familiar and very welcome voice caused Karai to look up, a soft, sweet smile forming as Ying's face met her eyes. She wanted to rise up to meet him, but she knew that at the moment she was in no shape to do so. But her sweet voice came anyway, adoring eyes meeting his. Ying... you cannot... cannot intrude... *cough* where you are... most welcome.

And her face fell a bit with shame, for he of all wolves would be able to tell exactly what she had just tried to do. She felt guilty... as though she had been betraying her friends.

To distract herself from it, she turned her eyes from side to side, taking in both Moon Spirit and Zhener as she spoke again. Old friends... I'm not sure... I don't know that you've met... my friend Ying. This is Zhener, and Moon Spirit. She nodded in the appropriate directions, praying that someone would say something that would distract everyone from the obvious pitifullness of herself.

As Moon Spirit began to press the water out of her coat, she felt herself growing warmer again, and the shivering began to slow. Perhaps... with so many friends... even if Moon Spirit did not wear her own face... but perhaps now things would be alright.

He came forth even farther at Moon Spirits gentle smile and lay on Karais other side. He rested his head upon her shoulders, his eyes on Zhener. What the hell is that? He thought to himself, but knew it was rude to ask questions. He had never seen a bird quite like the eagle, and was quiet as he eyed him. Was he ashamed of Karai? No. Was he supposed to be? He didn't think so....Wait, did he miss something completely? Ah crap. He sighed. Sometimes, he was like those ditzy blondes he saw wandering around the human town.

Her smile was soft and quiet as he added his bulk to her own private heating-pile. A small lick across his cheek let him know that she was glad he was here. What more can one ask for, than to be home and safe, and surrounded by those you love?

She leaned a little against him, tucking her tiara into his shoulder as she yawned, feeling the warmth of his body and Moon Spirit's beginning to push the last of the coldness away, leaving only the comforting blanket of sleep... she was fighting the sleep, not wanting to loose a moment of feeling so cared for, so loved. But another yawn broke, and she mentally shook her head to herself. What did it matter? It was not as if they would abandon her. Moon Spirit had made that ABUNDANTLY clear. How good it was... to have friends.

A soft smile crossed Moon Spirits face and she murmered to her closest friend Besides, you can't forget his face now that you see it again. A returned smile was given to the alphess. She wasn't so bad. Resting his head upon his massive paws, the male began to sleep. Soon, Moon Spirit did as well neither leaving Karais side as they did so.

The smile came out cautiously on the silver face at the encouragement of her friends, and so she tucked her dial against Ying's shoulder and was soon at rest herself, not even stirring a moment.

Suddenly a howl split the air, echoing a little bit before coming back to the listeners, but the message was clear: Abamocho and Soleda's pups had arrived. There were four more sets of undoubtedly evil paws in the world.

Moon Spirits head raised to the howl, and dark uncertainty curled in her gut, grabbing her like a vise. Abamocho, he was one of those that should never have pups. His dark soul and evil hatred was enough to match his aunts, and that scared the mother to know end. Sighing softly she rested her head upon Karais own. Well, to look on the brightside, at least she was a grandmother now.

The howl woke Karai with little effort, for her sleep had been restless as it was. But as it finished, her eyes widened, for she knew as well as Moon Spirit that Abamacho did not need to be reproducing. She gave her friend a comforting lick, voice soft. All will be well. You'll see.