The morning sun made a glittering patchwork quilt of the moss-covered forest floor; the fir trees causing the shadows to flickers and dance each time the gentle breeze stirred their lithe needles. The damp earth felt soft and inviting beneath her bare feet as Salena tiptoed her way through the low ground cover, picking handfuls of fresh raspberries, wild mushrooms, and fiddlehead ferns; her skirt heavy and laden with a spring-time bounty that bobbed and swayed with each twirl and hop through the bright woods. The gentle humming stirred the birds and insects, a single gentle deer pausing to lift its head before bounding away as she whispered by. The whole forest felt alight with life and light... until it didn't. 

A deathly silence fell over the forest as Sally stepped into a brightly lit clearing. The stillness that crept over the trees chilled the hollows of her bones despite the warmth of the radiant sun bearing down. It felt as if she had somehow trespassed upon some unknown, forbidden, sacred thing whose vengeful emissary now prowled and stalked her, waiting for the right moment to pounce. But as a familiar threatening growl emanated from the dense underbrush, Sally soon realized it wasn't the forest that stalked her. This was something much, much worse. 

As the shadowy visage of a hulking, black wolf skulked from the shadows of the deeper woods, a sinister chuckle echoed in Sally's mind. Not so brave when you're alone. 

And to some extent it was true. As she turned to face the glowing yellow eyes that pierced the darkness to hold her frozen, an unfamiliar quake began to settle into her knees... the massive beast laughing again as her heart lurched and skipped a beat. Taking one step into the clearing he snarled, RUN, little bitch. 

The life-preserving instinct that had held her still beneath Hiram's gaze, that had rooted her firmly before this beast and his pack the night before, dissolved under the crushing threat of imminent death. All instinct overridden by panic and fear, Salena lurched toward the house with all the speed and fury she could manage. 

It was no use. She knew that it was no use. She was small and frail, slow and squishy. She was nothing compared to the monsters and men she surrounded herself with. But to go down without ANY fight... without even TRYING... it went against EVERYTHING in her. And so, she ran. 

Twigs snagged her hair and clothes as the dense, thorny underbrush thrashed her legs and ankles. The stinging 'snap' of a low hanging branch drew streaks of crimson heat across her cheek as fear welled in her eyes. Her breath tore itself from her straining lungs in aching gasps as she strained toward the promise of an unreachable sanctuary that glimmered, just out of reach... small glimpses barely visible through the peeking trees, blurred and softened by the tears that threatened to overtake her. And all the while, the damp warm breath of taunting laughter tickled, ever-present, on the back of her neck as her predator teased and tormented her.

With a sharp 'snap' her foot caught on an exposed root, sending the world tumbling topsy-turvey until a sharp concussive pain stopped her dead. The world exploded into a kaleidoscope of colour, heat, and pain as her head collided with the thick stump of an old fir. Gasping, she lay crumpled against the base of the stump, mushrooms scattered like hints of some Carroll-esque fantasy. Crushed berries stained the ground a goreish rouge, whispering morbidly of what was to come as she struggled to regain her bearings and her breath. The whispering gasp had barely to cross her lips before a heavy, smothering paw slammed into her chest, stifling her breath and holding her down. 

For a long moment, Taka held her gaze, snapping and snarling as he waited for her to flinch away. But confronted with her end, she swore to herself she wouldn't. She'd never shown fear in the face of doom. And she wouldn't start now. No fear for her father. No fear for her shooter. No fear for the monsters that shared her home. And no fear for this. No. If this is how it was to end, Sully would know she was not afraid and she did not leave him willingly.

Taka's hot breath washed over her in burning waves from his dripping maw as he snapped and snarled. Scream! 

Sally shook her head. But as the crushing weight of angry jaws clamped around her leg, despite herself, she howled... like a wounded animal. 

This is going to be slow. She heard his voice echo at the edge of her consciousness, revelling in the pained whimpers that tore themselves form he straining lips. Her body betrayed her: screaming, begging, crying, snivelling like a terrified child despite the cold resolve that buried itself in the most stubborn reaches of her mind. And for the first time in her life, Sally feared death. 

She couldn't die. Not really. Not like this. Poor Sullivan. He couldn't lose another. Not another. Not again. Not like this. It would break him. ... her brokenness would break him. 

As grinding teeth crushed slowly into bone, Sally imagined the scene he would come upon when he came searching. In the pain-induced stupor of her mind, she saw the green moss stained slick with blood. Her mangled body pale and lifeless. Her unblinking eyes staring out, wide with pain and horror... the green still bright while the brown clouded. She heard him wail... a heartwrenching sound more bestial than human. She heard his heartbreak and his world end. She felt his shaking hands cradle her... weeping, shaking, begging, raging. She felt the tender lips that kissed her face, the tears that dripped from his nose as she rocked her. The tremble that shook through her empty bones as a dark transformation took root in him. She saw the blue of his eyes glow bright with magic and malice and then slowly glaze black with hopeless, empty, resolute rage. She saw him end, saw him change. And what he became wounded and terrified her beyond anything the laughing beast stop her chest could ever hope to be. 

She had to live. She had to live. She couldn't let her love become... she couldn't. She wouldn't. With a banshee-like screech, worthy of the furies themselves, Sally wrested herself from the forest floor. Thin nails raked through squelching jelly as she lunged for Taka's eyes. 

Her blood-curdling scream chased the birds from the forest... animals throughout the woods pausing or jumping at the shaking, quivering sound. In the house, ALL of the wolves heard her strangled, terrified voice shriek: ELY!!!

The pack lounged around lazily, staring up at the beautiful sky. Even Sullivan lay in the grass, eyes closed and listening to the symphony of birds and other woodland animals that made the utopia of the Hollywood Reservoir their home. Clouds hung in the air, lightly floating along the breeze that flowed along the hills. The sun shone down brightly, lighting everything beneath and bathing it in golden hues. Truly a perfect day.

Elyan wandered down toward the lake's edge, stretching tall and popping his joints. Shirtless, allowing the rays of sunshine to beat down on his tanned skin, he knelt and scooped a handful of water and lifted it to his mouth. Everything was so nice that even Sally had gotten up and gone to explore the woods...

Peace...

Then all of a sudden the wolves were up in arms. All of them rushing as Elyan stood and looked into the woods. Something was off. There was a stillness to everything that even caused Sullivan to sit up. Joining Ely along the lake's edge, he looked along the treeline.

"What's going on?"

"I'm not certain..." Elyan stood, sniffing the air. "But the animals are hushed and the air is still. Something is out there, and it's hunting."

About that time, Elyan and the other wolves all seemed to react, just as the hair on the back of Sullivan's neck raised. Every wolf was by Elyan's side in an instant...And shifted.

"It's Sally...Come. Try and keep up... And don't get in my way."

Shifting faster than Sullivan had ever seen, Elyan was off leading the pack, shreds of clothing left where he'd been standing moments before. Sullivan growled beneath his breath and leaped into action, quickly on Elyan's heels as they rushed through the woods. Sullivan could, of course, move faster but he had no idea of the land, or a scent on Sally. Ely, on the other hand, seemed to know exactly where he was going.

Skidding abruptly to a halt, Elyan and Sullivan both paused atop a large rock looking down on Taka-Ee gnawing Salena's bone, while Salena struggled beneath. The voice, so powerful that even Sullivan heard and felt it, echoed so loudly that it sent birds and other animals scattering for a mile...

THAT IS ENOUGH TAKA-EE!

Drawing the other "less-than-alpha" wolf's gaze from Salena and his grinding of her ankle into bonemeal, he saw the great Grey Wolf on the rock's edge... But it wasn't his appearance that enraged Taka-Ee, but the Upyr...thing...beside him. Sullivan's eyes glowed brightly, the most unnatural blue he'd ever seen in mid daylight, until his eyes shaded into an almost hollow, gradient grey lack of color and his eyes vanished, leaving nothing but black holes of the abyss for Taka-Ee to stare at.

Snarling, he returned to Sally and gripped her ankle, jerking, gnawing, and shaking like an animal would it's prey to kill them... However, they all knew that was not Taka-Ee's immediate endgame. Elyan moved first, but Sullivan was upon the two in an instant, quicker than he could even drop down from the rock.

Sullivan's hand was on Taka-Ee's throat, causing the shaking to stop... In fact, all of the wolves froze in place as even Elyan's hair stood straight at the aura oozing from Sullivan.

"Drop her..."

Taka-Ee growled low as his hair stood. What was this "thing" called Sullivan Black? Were the other Upyrs like this? No, the one he'd met that sent him down this path had been nothing like the younger one before him. He tried to bite harder, but found himself quickly loosing the ability to breath, and he very much needed to breath. Taka-Ee whimpered softly as he heard a crack, his own jaw being forced open by Sullivan's other hand. Once Salena's leg was freed, Taka-Ee was gripped in pain as the tendons that kept his jaw together snapped.

Thrown through the air to slam into the rock beside Ely, Taka-Ee stumbled to his feet and looked up, tail tucked as he stared between Elyan and Sullivan.

What is that thing, Elyan?

Ely looked back at Sullivan as he scooped Sally up, then to Taka-Ee, growling low.

My nephew, and your undoing.

Shomecosse dove down and between the two males, placing herself just underneath Elyan's throat, snarling and growling.

"Kill him Ely... It will be more merciful if you do it." Sullivan's voice was hollow and distant, feeling like an echo of a past thought form in a dark dream, his unnatural gaze more haunting than even Carlisle's. It was more reminiscent of his absent grandfather's than anyone else's that Elyan had ever met.

Not giving Taka-Ee a chance to retreat, Ely vaulted over Shomecosse and the two alpha males when at it. Unfortunately for Taka-Ee, his bite was useless. The two tangled for a moment before Ely slapped Taka to the ground, his jaw snapping shut around Taka's throat and holding. Injured or not, Taka would have been no match for the elder, and everyone knew it. Whimpering out as he took his last breath in a pained huff, Elyan felt him leave the world.

Find his pack... Kill them or bring them home. Their choice. His line ends here, and now.

Hasani howled, slowly pausing near her father's lifeless corpse. She made eye contact with Ely, and quickly broke away in a run.

Follow me, I know where they will be. I will deliver the news.

Her thoughts were just as clear as any other who had joined him, and Ely seemed to nod.

Give her help. GO!

All of the other wolves took off aside from Elyan and Shomecosse. Looking to his mate, he turned to where Sullivan had been... He was gone, of course.

Back to the house for us...

Shomecosse and Elyan turned away from the scene and rushed headlong back home.

The world raced by in a blur like a clouded watercolour dream. The worn wood of the long kitchen table was a welcome anchor as Sullivan gingerly stretched her bleeding, broken body over its rough grain. Sally coughed and gasped, her head lolling weakly as she reached limply for Sully. Her left leg was mangle from just above the knee down, the bone garishly exposed here and there. Her right shoulder was likewise shredded from Taka's retaliation against her assault on his eyes. Deep gashes bubbled and gurgled with each beat of her slowing, stuttering heart. 

Even the bright sun felt pale and cold as her fingers weakly grasped for Sullivan's hand... the tips of her fingers already cold and unfeeling. Her breaths came in short, shuttering gasps. A familiar, creeping numbness beginning to fray the very edges of her consciousness.  Sally knew this feeling. All too well. Her numb fingers reached to clutch at Sullivan's collar, pulling him close as her eyes struggled to focus. "I'll come back," she assured him, caressing his face gently with her free hand; her touch cold, "I always come back. I love you." 

It was the first time she'd said it aloud. And, of course, in typical tragically Sully fashion, it had to be NOW. Shaking his head, Sullivan shooshed and pet her before moving - in an almost literal whirlwind - to tend her wounds. He could save her. If anyone could save her, he could. He had to. He had to. She couldn't... she couldn't... not now. Not like this. Not again.

Sullivan was literally running in circles around the table as Shomecosse and Elyan rushed up, looking her over.

"She's going to make it. She'll be just fine, just get away. I can do this..."

Sullivan wrapped wounds and hissed as he looked at the damage of everything. Nothing was going to plan. The bleeding was to furious. The cuts too deep. Still, he worked.

"Sullivan..." Ely's voice called.

He continued working in circles, shoving Ely and Shomecosse away from them as he did so. Sally had passed out now, and her breathing was short, but it was still there.

"Sullivan..." Elyan called again.

Again the young man continued to work in frivolous circles, tightening tourniquets and suturing wounds closed. Elyan watched before reaching for him.

"Don't touch me while I'm working."

Sighing, Ely reached out anyway, but Shomecosse grabbed his hand. Stepping up beside Sullivan, she reached up and wiped the tears that streaked his face as he worked.

"Sullivan, dear... She's not going to make it."

She looked at Ely, biting her lip for fear of making things worse. "But your Uncle can save her. She'd live forever... Like us..." She paused and turned to Sally, moving to lay a hand on her shoulder. Sullivan also paused and stopped Shomecosse from touching her.

"That's not fair. I can't make that choice... I never wanted to be back. I -did not- want to live beyond normalcy. How can I force that on someone else?"

Sullivan sat back, tears streaking his face as he slammed his fists into the table.

"This is my fault! She wouldn't even be here if it weren't for me! I'm a fucking CURSE! EVERYONE AROUND ME DIES!"

He yelled as he flung his tools from the table and kicked his chair, sending it flying through the open air kitchen and into the yard. He crumpled and cried, shielding his eyes from a mothering Shomecosse who tried to shush him.

"Shhhhh, Sullivan, it's not your fault. Sally made her own decisions."

'NO!" He screamed and jerked away, "I shouldn't have let her go alone. No one should have let her go alone. This is my fault for dragging her into this. Harvey was right, I should have left her alone... But I couldn't. I just..." He fell apart, knowing there was nothing he could do to save her. But as time seemed to slow around them, and his spirit shifted, he felt her presence as strong as he ever had... And her voice called softly out to him, ethereal and haunting...

"Sullivan... Please don't cry Sullivan... Your eyes are too pretty for tears..."

Sniffling, he looked up, beyond the frozen in time Shomecosse and Elyan to see Sally lift out of her body and approach him.

"No, no, n-n-no, no, n-no-o, no, no... No... No no... You can't. No, no this is not okay, no, no go back into the body, no, you can't go! NOOOOO!" he screamed, but as she touched him, he felt peace...

"Let's talk, Sullivan... I think you need to understand."

"Understand what?" he queried as he sniffled, looking up at Salena's spirit, or was it Matty's? Or... both?

Kneeling next to him, Sally tenderly caressed his face as she cradled him. "I told you, I'm going to come back. I'm not leaving you. Don't you see... I'm never leaving you." Kissing his tears away, she coaxed him to meet her mismatched gaze, "My darling... Cariño Mio... trust me. I was made for this. ... And so were you." 

Taking his hand she led him out into the yard. In the distance, a tall familiar figure sulked near the treeline. Seeing the man, Sullivan growled, tugging back against Sally's hand. But her gentle smile and determined progress speared him on. "You have to understand, my love... what you are... what you're meant to do." Reaching for Taka's hand, she yanked him out into the clear sunlit yard, dragging him to stand before Sully. 

"His soul must be put to rest," she nodded softly, giving Sully an ushering pat as she took a step back. "You took this life. Now YOU must decide what to do with it. Put your wrath aside... just for a moment. Look at him. REALLY look at him. And tell me what you see."

Sullivan reached out and gripped the familiar man's neck. "YOU! YOU DID THIS TO HER!" he screamed, but Sally/Matty's hand on his shoulder drew his attention.

"No, Cariño Mio, I said put your wrath aside. You must be fair."

Sullivan looked at her, growling as he turned his head back and looking into Taka-Ee's eyes. It was as if he searched through the man's entire life in an instant... All the way until a very familiar set of blue eyes glared back at him.

"Hello, Sullivan..."

Sully dropped Taka-Ee and stumbled backward, staring at him and stammering. "H-how, but... No... You were..." Taking a breath he walked back toward Taka and watched the memories unfold... The marks on Taka's soul being few and far between.

"You were a good man, Taka-Ee... your corruption was not of this world, and therefore not your own doing." Sullivan sighed. "You did not deserve this."

"Nor did she," Taka spoke softly, pointing toward Sally. "She was strong, and I was weak. I am sorry for your loss, ghost-man. Do you know a way from this void? I feel as if I am stuck..."

Sullivan eyed him, shaking his head. "No, I'm sorry... Why would I kn~"

Sally, smiling, reached out and touched him on the shoulder, pausing his speech. "Because this is what you are, Sullivan Black." Holding out her hand, a dagger appeared... One like he'd always kept, like he remembered keeping at least. Taking it, he could feel it's energy.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

"It is your weapon, Sullivan. You will know when to use it and when not. How to use it, and how not." She walked over and touched Taka-Ee's shoulder, "What do you see... Judge him."

"Me? Who am I to judge?"

"You are the judge, Sullivan. The Ghost-man, the Angel of Death, the Grim Reaper... Well, everyone always says the... I should say 'A' Grim Reaper. One of Dmany." Sullivan stumbled over words, finding nothing to come out as he looked at her.

"You choose if a soul is worthy of redemption, or if it spends eternity elsewhere."

Sullivan blinked, unsure of exactly what to think of that... "So how do I?

Sally smiled, "You must decide that for yourself, my Love. Each Reaper has their own technique. Something arises naturally from the essence of their being. Their own 'touch', if you will." Squeezing his shoulder gently, she motioned Taka forward. "Don't put too much thought into it. Just... do what comes naturally. FEEL what he deserves... feel it in your bones. And then... give him that. Whatever it is, however it looks. There is no right or wrong answer."

Stepping forward, Sullivan paused and stared at Taka. "Hmmmmm..." He thought quietly before Sally nudged him. "I said don't put too much thought into it, silly."

Chuckling, he nodded and reached forward, touching Taka's face and smiling. "I may not like you, but your life was good before you were corrupted. You deserved better... Go, and enjoy your rest."

Taka's soul seemed to shimmer as Sully touched him. With his words, the soul shone bright then vanished before their eyes.

"Sally... Sally, did you see that?!" He turned and looked at her, but she was gone. Looking back, he saw her walking toward her body.

"WAIT! I CAN'T LOOSE YOU!" He called after her and gave chase...

Glancing over her shoulder, Sally chuckled, shooting him a coquettish smile that stopped him in his tracks. "I love you," she mouthed as a trail of leaves and spring blossoms drifted by, dancing on the gentle breeze. 

He was fast, but on this plane, she was faster. And in a flash... the twirling of one leaf... she was gone, leaving him to catch up. Is this what it felt like for her all the time? It was like swimming through jello.  He could see her clearly through the open kitchen doors as he fought to move back to his body. But before he could make it three whole steps, she smiled from the table and faded from view. 

Sully sat slumped to the floor, seemingly frozen in frozen shock, as Sally gasped and arched up from the table. Ely and Meko both jumped and gasped... unprepared for her sudden shift in consciousness. Choking and wretching, she tangled her fingers in Ely's shirt both pulling him down and pulling herself up. "D... do it," she coughed, holding his gaze with resolute conviction, "Do it now."

Elyan took one glance at Sullivan, crumpled to the floor almost lifeless, and sighed. "I'm sorry, dearest one... She's asked for it now, and I can save her. I promise it will be quick. It's not on you any longer."

Turning to her, he released her and turned, hopping onto the table and biting down onto her shoulder. He sat there for a long moment, until he felt her fade away and finally released her. Howling out, Elyan's form gave a look toward Sullivan, and then Meko. Holding a paw out, he waited, and Meko ran a blade across Ely's paw. With a soft growl, he pulled away. She knew it wasn't at her, and Meko reached up, petting Elyan's grey and white coat affectionately. He allowed the blood to run along his fur coat and drip along Sally's wound...

Hopping from the table, he shifted back and quickly wrapped his hand with a dish towel. At about that time, Sullivan made it back to his body and shot up, dagger at Ely's throat. Meko growled angrily, but Elyan waved her down. "It's okay... Sullivan, she asked me to do this. She sat up and wanted it. She doesn't wish to die or leave you. She wants to be with you forever. This way, we save her life and keep her here with you."

Sullivan was breathing heavily, panting, until he broke down and dropped the dagger clattering to the floor as he wrapped his arms around his uncle. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry Sally! I'm sorry Elyan... This is..." He huffed, then fell to his knees, slumped again. "This is not how I saw things going."

"They rarely are, child. They rarely are," Elyan comforted as Meko calmly scooped up the dagger and sat it on the counter, purposely moving it away from Elyan and Sully's grasp.

"What do I do now?" Sullivan sniffled out as he regained some composure, pushing himself to his feet. "How do I help her?"

"We wait..." Ely nodded, as Meko slid three chairs over. "She'll wake, and when she does, it may not be pretty... She'll need to be trained like a new pup."

Sullivan nodded. "I'll leave that to you, Elyan... She's your child now too."

"Aye, boy, that she is... That she is..."

Sullivan swallowed and looked at them then Sally. What had she just showed him? And would she remember so they could discuss it? Or was he alone in this new realization?

Though the bleeding slowly stopped, Sally's breathing remained shallow and ragged. Unconscious, her body began to sweat and shiver. Bones snapped and popped as her body realigned itself; unconscious moans and groans echoing off the windows as Sally writhed and whimpered. The damage was more extensive than Ely had ever tried to salvage. With her mind and body so drained and depleted, he silently worried that she wouldn't have the strength to claw her way through the transformation. It was gruelling for even the most well-prepared specimen. He'd seen far healthier younglings get stuck halfway through... yowling, writhing, pitiful masses of half-formed agony whose only respite was the end of their suffering. 

Any other human in her condition and Ely would gladly have let them die peacefully rather than risk such horror. But she wasn't just any human. She was Sully's mate. And more than that, he'd seen her spirit. She was, as the other had dubbed, "Alpha Human". She was unprecedented. She'd faced death dozens of times and stood toe to toe with one of their own... and not only survived TWICE, but won. If there was anyone he believed could survive the change on the edge of life, it was her. 

But as the minutes stretched into hours, they all began to wonder. 

Sally slipped in and out of consciousness with varying lucidity. She spoke very little, her snivelling, mewling moans mostly incomprehensible as her mind and body were wracked with crushing, searing pain. Meko mothered her in Tar's absence, carefully dabbing the sweat from her brow. She carefully padded the table with pillows; adding, removing, and adjusting the plush padding as necessary as Sally's body twisted and thrashed. Muscle slowly wound around bone... as her bones morphed and shifted. 

In all his years it was the most nauseating, ghastly thing Sullivan had been forced to watch... as his love wavered between life and death vacillating between human and beast, usually settling on something halfway in between. It felt as if her blood was boiling, lava coursing through her veins with each heartbeat. Her whole body felt wrong. Everything was a raw nerve. The pillows beneath her felt like sandpaper, the woodgrain like raking claws. Even the air on her skin was agony. 

The water that Elyan forced into her mouth felt like acid as it flooded her mouth and seared her tongue. No coherent thought existed within the sea of pain as she rocked and screamed, even the tears that streamed her face feeling like liquid torment. There was no rest and no respite. No escape. The pain built and built and built with no end and no release. 

And worst of all was the grating, raking, clawing convulsions that tore their way through her stomach with no end in sight. Eventually, even her whimpering ceased... numbed into silence by the slicing pain that robbed her of her sanity and her breath. Curled in the fetal position, Sally clutched her contorted stomach with malformed hands, rocking and writhing in silent anguish as she struggled to crest the ever-growing wave of mind-numbing fear and agony that spasmed in her core. 

As the morning sun lengthened and dimmed, stretching out into the long shadows of evening, Sally remained... locked in pain... with darkening concern growing over Ely and Meko's faces. If she didn't manage to complete the shift soon...

Sullivan smiled at her, even in her pain. He reached out, but did not touch her. He could feel the pain she felt, and every little thing being like razors against her new senses.

"Hey Sally, love. You can do this. I know you can," he whispered out. His face was twisted in pain with her, and he desperately wished there was something any of them could do. "You promised me... You promised me you weren't going anywhere. So I believe you." He sniffled and stood straight. "Yeah, no more tears from me. I believe in you, Sally. We've got too much life to live."

Turning, Sullivan walked around the table and hopped up onto it, cuddling up near to her without toughing her. Leaning closer, he whispered softly into her ear. "I love you, too."

He laid his head down, close, and closed his eyes... Reaching out as best he could like when she'd drawn him out of himself. Stretching through, he felt himself shift and his body went limp on the table as he stood next to it.

"Hmm. That worked." Looking at Sally, he smiled, and his spirit reached out and cradled her's. "Come now Sally. How can I help you through this? Let's work together. I won't loose you..."

It was just like Sully to find a creative solution. The problem was, Sally wasn't 'there'... not on that side. Not in the way he needed for his trick to work. She wasn't dying... in the traditional sense. She was very much in her body. she was just stuck... trapped in herself like an animal in a cage. And in that state, the touch of death brought her howling to full screaming consciousness. 

For a few minutes, the whole world was a whirling mess of black and red. Through the pain, she thought she actually saw stars. Everything was masked and muted. But in the distance, she heard the familiar scrape of metal on marble as Meko gently slid Sullivan's dagger from the counter where she'd hidden it. 

"Ely... my love," Sally heard Meko's voice... muffled like she was listening through water and silk, "I know you love the boy. I know you WANT to see her pull through. I know you are trying to do the right thing. But... my moon and stars... this... this is cruel. You know how this ends. And as painful as it will be for him, watching her suffer is worse." 

There was a muffled conversation as Meko pressed the dagger into Ely's palm. "I won't make the choice for you. And I will support you in whatever decision you make. But know... when the time comes to put her down..." 

'put. her. down' 

The rest of the world melted away with those three words. They echoed in Sally's mind like a twisted mantra. 'put her down'... like a dog... like some failed experiment. 

Sally tried to protest, tried to scream and rage in defiant outrage. But the words wouldn't form. The sound felt like barbed wire and needles as she coughed and gagged, retching as she tried to force foreign words through different lips. Her tongue felt heavy and fat, like it wouldn't move. Why couldn't she make it move? 

The sound was enough to make Ely sigh. And the sound made Sally's every hair stand on end. One heavy step reverberated through her consciousness as he paused, fighting with himself over what he must do. Two more and she felt him standing next to her... the air between warming to a rancid sting as he leaned close... looking at her. 

The dim evening light felt as bright as a searchlight as she wrenched her tired, crusted eyes open to meet his gaze. Glaring up, she stopped him dead as he lifted the dagger. Her gaze accusing and challenging. Truly challenging. It made him chuckle.. and melt ever so slightly. Meko - confused - moved to take the blade from him, but stopped dead as Sally turned her gaze on the woman, one green eye... one yellow. 

"NO," the word wrested itself from the depth of her soul, echoing in their ears and minds simultaneously. The words felt like solid, raking acid as she coughed and gasped. But she didn't let the shock of it choke her. "I... can... I can do this," she fought through the searing pain, forcing words to come despite everything about them feeling wrong. "I can do this," she repeated, GLARING at Ely with everything she had. 

Coughing and wincing, she held his gaze as she slowly pulled herself up... turning onto one side so that she could writhe her way onto all fours. Pausing to breath, she closed her eyes, repeating it again... softly this time, more to herself than for anyone else. "I can do this," she reassured herself, "I can do this." Breathing slowly, deliberately, she gripped the edge of the table with white-knuckled fury as she felt and relaxed into the agony of being alive. 

It was the most exquisite misery she'd ever felt in her life. And in that moment... she treasured it. 

"I can do this," the words came again, steeled and resolutely confident this time. "I am Salena Damiana Antoinette Vargas," panting, she paused to catch her breath. It was more difficult this time. But it drew a smile from Ely's tired eyes. "I am she who courts death and runs with wolves.  I am lifemate to the living Upyr, to death and your undoing," she smirked wickedly, despite the ache, "I am Alpha... even as a human. I am the bridge between worlds. I am the dawn of a new era. I have stared Death in the face and called him my lover. I do not fear. I am NOT finished. I will NOT back down. I... can DO THIS." 

With each statement, more of her shifted... bones cracking and tendons popping as her form twisted and changed... until eventually, the last words echoed only in their minds. 

Panting softly, she held Ely's gaze for a moment before crumpling to the table with soft whine... her brindle coat drawing a distinct 'what the fuck' look from both the others as Ely reached to ruffled the confusingly coloured fur, pausing to chuckle at her still-different-coloured eyes. 

Of course, her form would be something off the wall. What else had he expected from a human alpha?

Sullivan jumped quickly back into his body, rolling off the table and flailing as he did so. Hopping back to his feet quickly, he looked at the beautiful coat of fur that was now Sally, then peeked over her at Elyan.

"Is this right? I've never seen something quite like this."

"Neither have I, but it's a pretty color, and why wouldn't she be something we've never seen before? Have you met the girl, Sullivan? She's pretty special."

They both chuckled as Meko stared on, blinking at Sally's interesting new look. Reaching out, she ran her fingers through the soft fur before smiling. "You scared us there, Salena. I thought you weren't going to make it. Elyan was right to put so much faith in you. Special and strong indeed. You'll make a great wolf."

Meko bowed her head to the group and walked out toward the fire pit, leaving Elyan, Sully, and Sally. Sullivan reached out and brushed his fingers through her fur as well. "Magnificent..." he whispered before moving around and looking into Sally's eyes with a smile. "Are you okay? Do you hurt? Do you know I love you?" He smiled, "And I knew you could make it through this!" Chuckling, he placed his hand beneath her chin and held her head high. "You must be exhausted after that..."

"She needs to run it out," Elyan smiled. "She should take a trip around the island and explore her newfound gifts. What she can hear, and smell, and sense... And then come home and we can help her shift back into her human body before your brothers get here."

Sullivan's eyes got wide... "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck... My brothers Ely, they're coming tomorrow!"

Elyan blinked, "What?"

"They called earlier... Everything is situated and they'll be here in the afternoon tomorrow."

"Well, we've got even less time then. Sally, you still need to go run around and test your new gifts. You should do that. I have to go and think."

Elyan walked off toward the fire pit with Shomecosse, leaving Sally and Sully in the kitchen. Sully looked at her and nodded. "Go, everything will be alright."

Run? How the hell did they expect her to run? She could barely STAND. Stretching her shaking legs, she gingerly licked Sully's cheek before tumbling off the table... clamouring to the ground with a rolling yelp as she twisted to her feet. 

She was wobbly... like a newborn fawn. Even moving in a straight line seemed difficult. And Sully gave a nervous chuckle as she stumbled her way to the firepit, looking almost drunk with exhaustion. Even the exertion of walking from the kitchen to the fire had her panting like she'd run a mile. There was no way she could run tonight. Walk... maybe? And even that was questionable in her current state. Was that normal?

Elyan's concerned expression certainly didn't seem so as Sally drug herself over and collapsed by his feet. Curled close to Ely, Sally laid her head Meko's foot with a huffing sigh. No. There'd be no running tonight.

Just... give me a few moments. Sally's voice whispered softly in Ely's mind. I'll leave you to your thoughts. Just... just a few. I'm so tired. I've never been so tired.

Elyan chuckled and rested his palm on the side of her neck as he reached for Meko's hand. "Come child, you can rest for a moment, but you've got to get up and run. It's going to be hard, but if you lie dormant you won't wake your body."

Looking at Meko, it was obvious the chuckle was nervous and pained. He was worried for her. Most wanted to run away from everything... Then again, maybe sleep would be best for her. For once, Elyan wasn't exactly sure what he needed to get her to do. On one hand, he did not want her to get lethargic and lay there until she died. On the other hand, he did not want to push her body beyond it's limits and kill her.

Regardless, if she went for a run, it should cause her to eventually shift back into the human when she fell asleep...

Maybe she was just to that point already, and if she laid down to sleep, she would make an eased transition back into her human nature. One could at least hope for that.

Sighing, Elyan closed his eyes and reached out, into her mind.

Tell me child... How are you feeling? Pain? Or just exhaustion?

Sullivan joined them around the dark fire pit and sat on one of the cool logs near Sally.

"How is she?" he offered, his eyes filled with worry.

"Tired... Very tired," Meko answered softly. "She needs to run off any energy she can and exert herself so she can sleep, but if she's only exhausted, then she may already be there. If she's in pain, then we may have issues..."

Meko squeezed Elyan's hand tightly, wanting more than anything for the young Sally-wolf to make it through at this point.

Sullivan sighed and moved himself onto the ground to lay with Sally, his arm resting over the top of her large, lupine form.

Sally lifted her head and chuffed lightly at Sully, wiggling a bit to scooch closer to him. She was quite fluffy and much softer than he'd expected.

Laying her head back down, she nuzzled them both lightly as she reached out for Ely once more. 

Mostly tired. My stomach hurts... just a little. Like... too many sit-ups or the third day after surgery. But nothing like earlier. And nothing else.  Her mismatched eyes glanced up at him for reassurance, but his worried eyes gave her no comfort. In their tense depths, she found only stern concern. If it was solace she sought, she would have to see this through... again. With a soft sigh, she gently licked Sully's cheek before shaking herself loose from his draping grasp.  

Standing shakily, she slowly wobbled her way out to the treeline. Her whole body trembled with the effort. Each step felt like crossing the grand canyon as the soft, dewy grass caressed her paws. The world smelled different, more somehow. The moon was brighter. The night held more colour and a symphony of indescribable sounds. But she was too exhausted to appreciate the beauty of it. All her focus was stretched thin across the gaping void of each step until she felt, for sure, she would collapse on the spot if she moved one more muscle. 

Panting, she tilted her head back and released the most beautiful, melodic howl that Meko had ever heard. All the wolves in the reservoir would hear it. Hasani and Mikasi... indeed any of Taka's remaining pack... would feel it dance in their bones as she called them home. For Meko, it felt as if she called an end to the fighting... all of it. Like she called an end to an era. And when the sun came, nothing would ever be the same. 

The worried looks on Ely and Sully's faces echoed her thoughts as they glanced out over the moonlit yard... just in time to see Salena collapse into the cool grass in a puddle of dark curls and pale moon-kissed skin.

Sullivan jumped up to run to her aid, but Elyan's grip on his wrist stopped him cold.

"Wait... Let her rest. It will be best for her to sleep right where she sits. Watch, as the pack come and lay beside her as they will. She will wake as one with the pack." He smiled as he stood, Meko already making her way toward Salena as her naked body shifted, the coy-wolf laying beside the human Salena.

Elyan nodded to Sullivan. "If you can stand it, you can lay in the pack as well. I know we smell to your nose." He chuckled.

"You get used to it," Sullivan called as he tugged his shirt off, joining in the three man group of two wolves and a Salena. The rest of the pack would gather around them as they made their way home, sleeping, dog-piled atop one another and keeping themselves warm. Sullivan, unable to sleep, just sat there with his back rested against one of the wolves and his hand in Salena's.

She was going to be fine... She had to be... After everything, there was no way he could loose her now... No, he wouldn't allow it.

While Sully could find no rest at all... staying up to fret and guard instead... Sally slept like death. Looking back, it would be kind of funny.

His gentle grasp drew anxious circles along the back of her hand as she softly snored. And while she rolled and snuggled and did all manner of other adorably sleepy things, her hand never left his. Even when she curled up to finally settle into her rest, she pulled his hand close and tucked it warmly against her cheek with a soft huffle. 

She would be fine. He just didn't know it yet. 

And the surprising heat that rolled off her sufficiently snuggled body drew both surprise and concern to his features. Did she have a fever? was something wrong? Was she getting sick? What about her heart? But he daren't wake any of the lumbering beasts to ask for fear of disrupting whatever process was clearly taking place. Instead, he settled on listening to the slow, steady beat of her heart as she slept... stronger and more steady than he'd heard it before. No hiccups. That, at least, seemed to be promising. 

Now there was just the matter of explaining this whole mess. That should go well... 

By the time morning came, Sully was red-eyed and weary with overthinking. Sally, however, seemed utterly radiant as she rolled and stirred, Kicking Mikasi unceremoniously off of her legs. The first rays of sunlight were just beginning to peek over the treeline, glinting off her messy and grass ridden curls. The birds twittered excitedly as they flitted about... stirring her from her sleep. Was it tomorrow already? Had she survived to see the...... 

THE BOYS!

Sally sat bolt upright with a gasp, toppling the tower of cozy wolves that had scattered themselves about. Groggily several sat up and eyed her with a sour expression of sleepy discontent. Ely, however, was already up. And he patted her shoulder gently. "Don't worry, little cub. I'll handle it. Everything will be juuust fine. You just worry about adjusting." 

It was almost like she'd forgotten something, and as he reassured her, she remembered. Suddenly, the sun was brighter, the birds louder. And from the kitchen... BACON. Sally's eyes and smile grew wide as extricated herself from the ceremonial cuddle pit to tear toward the kitchen, Sully in tow. 

"I. AM. STARVING," she beamed, "I didn't even know I could BE this hungry. I'm famished." 

She was bright and smiling. The picture of perfect health. And just as cheery as they knew her to be... maybe even more so. Dragging Sully into the kitchen, she snagged a plate and headed straight for the platter of food that had yet to make it to the table... before pausing mid-step to search for Ely's soft blue gaze. "Um... am I supposed to wait," she asked, sounding as if even the idea of it might kill her. 

Chuckling softly, Ely shook his head. "No. No. You need your strength. And for that, today we make an exception!" Stealing the plate from her, he piled it high with a menagerie of mouthwatering breakfast delights... all prepared lovingly by Tar 'for the special occasion'. He chuckled as he took his seat, shooting her a playful wink. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let's eat!" 

Almost on cue, every head in the yard perked up. And suddenly the porch was a mad dash to see who could make to the kitchen first. Sally, well ahead of the group, shoved Audolf away and dipped under Dimitri's arm as they grappled playfully. Shaking her head, she filled her plate and then carefully tiptoed over to her seat from the previous evening, motioning for Sully to join her.

He smiled from across the kitchen, his eyes glistening as the crow's feet just around the edges crinkled with glee. And suddenly, it was as if the whole world flipped and slammed back down on itself. Her heart didn't skip a single beat, and yet it felt like gravity had lost its hold... like if she wasn't tethered to that beautiful blue gaze, she would float away and cease to be. Everything in the kitchen slowed to a stop-motion crawl as all her life stretched out before her, like a story written in messy scientific shorthand and punctuated in blue.

It was only a second. And as she blinked, it was gone. No one caught it except she and Meko, who nodded with a smile as she took her seat next to Ely. Sally breathed... as if she had to remind herself to do it... as Meko chuckled and beckoned her toward the table. They had much to discuss and little time to prepare. 

Tearing into a piece of bacon, Sally munched as she mused. "So... how does this work, exactly?"

Sullivan slid over next to Sally with his own plate of breakfast, eager to know just how it worked as well. Elyan and Meko smiled at each other then looked at Sally. "Well, normally you start at the bottom of the pack and work your way up. Same as you would any normal social or workforce hierarchy. You're hired, you work hard to please the boss and do what the boss says, until you're promoted. Some day, you might even be the boss..."

Elyan chuckled and shook his head, "But don't count on that last part. However, in pack structure, we're a family. The only difference is, I can compel you to do certain things that is needed of the Alpha... Like you -will not speak- of this to anyone that does not already know."

He tapped his chin and then looked at Sullivan, then back to Sally. "Same as Omerta in the mob. We don't speak about family matters with outsiders. That means pack business is pack business, and only pack business."

"Of course there are some perks to this business of ours; heightened senses, more strength, speed, all the likes. Oh, and the telepathy that you've already borne witness to."

Meko, Ely, and Sally chuckled as Sullivan perked a brow. "So how was she able to do that?"

"I'm not sure, but it's like I told you... She's special." Elyan smiled then looked at Sally and continued. "You are strong willed, but you're part of my pack. I'll never ask you to do something that isn't for the greater good of you or the pack, just so you know. And you can challenge my commands when i give them depending on your mental fortitude... However, I doubt you will feel the need to. And if you do, I'd ask you discuss it with me later, not in the moment. If you disobey direct orders, it will start to cause a rift between us much like Hasani and her father's."

He smiled.

"I'd like that not to be the case. I'd rather discuss when you have an issue of my command than loose you due to some miscommunication. Especially since you'll be taking the newest wolves once you've learned the way things work. You are, after all, the one who defeated Taka, no?"

Looking at Sullivan, Elyan chuckled and smiled, "We should hurry and finish breakfast. We've got to move quickly so we can be prepared when we meet your brothers. Christian needs to know of this development before they arrive."

Nodding, Sullivan agreed. "Also, something happened when Sally was dying on the table. She took me into the spirit realm... I met Taka-Ee there."

Meko raised her brows looking at Sullivan. "A spirit-walker? As an Upyr? That's unheard of."

Elyan nodded too, then looked at Sally before back to Sullivan and laughing. "But it is Sullivan who should have never returned. Why do I not doubt you made a deal with the devil. Anyway, continue."

"Well... I sent his soul to the other side, away from this realm and into the next. But before I did that, I saw his life before my eyes..."

Elyan blinked and shook his head, "Okay? He was a good man until this transpired. I'm still not sure why."

"I think I may be," Sullivan whispered out. "Carlisle..."

Everyone was silent for a moment as the name was spoken before Elyan stood and dusted off his chest.

"Yes, well... that doesn't surprise me." Sally would feel it as every other wolf cowered slightly away from Elyan; though she wasn't sure why. An aura of absolute rage seethed off of his body, causing even the hair on the back of Sullivan's neck to rise, though the Upyr wasn't sure why everything felt so heavy, and Salena felt as if she could rage alongside him.

On the outside, Elyan seemed calm and collected, but the wolves knew better. They knew his wolf's rage was being contained simply by the will of the master...

Smiling, with what they knew, Elyan looked like a psychopath who could kill them all in an instant, even though the other wolves continued to eat, simply not looking at him and giving him his berth. This feeling for Salena, though. It was new.

"Come, Sullivan. Much to discuss on our car ride to the airport. Salena, you stay here. Meko will help you understand everything you have questions with. In my absence, she is law."

Elyan left his plate on the table and left the room. Sullivan leaned over and kissed Sally's cheek. "I'm going to go get ready..."