Chapter Thirty Three: Kieren’s P.O.V.

My head feels foggy as I slowly lift up and look around, trying to figure out where I am and what happened. I was fighting and then... I look around and see the snow slowly drifting to cover the ground. I'm confused as I feel mud and grass beneath my hands instead of ice and snow like I remembered. Looking off to the trees I see a few patches of leaves smoking softly as snow slowly suffocates the fires. I look between the scorched trees and others covered in snow, to the barren ground slowly being blanketed by snow once again and realization dawns on me.

"ZIPPORAH?!" I scream for her as I stumble to my feet. My head is pounding but I continue circling around trying to find any trace of her. She can't be gone! I won't allow it! I decide to follow the only thing that's not snow and make my way through the slowly dying trail of fire leading out of the trees. Seeing Gingers fire form standing there staring at the battle happening. Clover stands off to the side, eyes wide as he sees us then turns to the men fighting, as purple and blue flames swirl together nearly creating a tornado of fire with the way the wind blows.

Ginger doesn't move, as if she's carved from stone and set aflame to stand guard over this epic fight. I turn and watch as they move so fast I'm sure most others wouldn't be able to keep up or see what was even happening. Ridge's axe and Suluks Khopesh hitting armor and shields, barely nicking flesh when a chance is given. The ground is dusted with blood as it bounces off the cold surface before slowly seeping in. I've never seen Suluk fight so viciously or his flames burn so bright… or blue for that matter! They're both evenly matched and I'm worried with the way things are going that Suluk will tire out first. Ridge has always had more stamina, he's even had more muscle than Suluk even when he first joined. But the look in Suluk's eyes promises death. He looks like a God of War on the path of destruction. His sight never wavers as he waits for his opening to take down Ridge.

I'm starting to think this fight is going to take forever, when twigs snap and snow crunches softly under boots drawing my attention away from the fiery battle. Both Ginger and I look across the field to see who's approaching. I'm left completely speechless as I witness a small form stumble through the trees. Their blade covered in blood, along with the small hands holding it. They lean against a tree and my heart beat stops as I truly look at the figure across the field. When that head of thick, strawberry blonde hair looks up to see what is going on, I'm met with one green and one blue eye. AVA! I'm so shocked to see she is alive, that I send my shadows out to check on her. While others rush to check on the body that I had laid in the snow a safe distance off into the woods.

When her eyes finally catch mine I can't believe what I'm seeing. She's alive! Bruised, cut and slightly broken, but alive! I can heal her shoulder that looks to be out of socket, and the broken cheekbone, but I can't even begin to explain how much of a relief this is! I watch as she looks at me, her expression filling with relief, before she looks over to Suluk with horror at the battle before her. I glance over as well, and see Suluk still focused on Ridge. He hasn't noticed her yet, and he's closed off the link right now. I couldn't tell him even knowing it might distract him from Ridge's attacks. When my shadows return to me…. I can't believe what I'm hearing! I run past Ginger; Clover decides to follow me as I run deep into the woods to go check with my own eyes. Where I had laid Ava down, with my own hands, now rests an old, haggard man with a long gray beard. I sniff trying to make sense of what is happening and smell the faint traces of magic that still linger to the slowly fading clothes. Where Ava's battle armor once sat is slowly turning into a wizard's robe, her sword changing into a long, twisted, black staff.

Clover looks to me confused and I nod back to where we had just ran from. Unable to form words that would make any sense to him right now. Needing to go see Ava again, to make sure she is really who she looks like.

Alavira's P.O.V.

I watch amazed at how Suluk and this new, large male fight. Not sure if I should help, or stay back. I want so badly to help Suluk, but I know I'll just get burned, and worse yet I'm so tired I'm not sure I can move anymore. I take slow, wobbly steps out beyond the safety of the trees to get a better look at what is happening. The wind blows the loose strands of my hair into my face and my long braid sways against my back. I watch horrified as both Suluk and this large man stop what they're doing, sniff the air and turn towards me. Suluk looks like he's seen a ghost, while the other man's face turns red and he starts to charge at me. His eyes holding nothing but hate and rage.

One second I think I'm done for, unable to move as I fall to the ground from sheer fright. The next I'm watching unbelieving as one swift motion of Suluk's sword slices through him and his head rolls to the ground with a wet snapping sound. The blood bouncing as much as his head before it rolls and stops just a few inches shy of my knees. His body hits the ground making a plume of snow rise, and I can't take my eyes off of what is happening. Through the snow I watch Suluk slowly walk towards me. He's pale, tired, and those lovely green eyes are wide as he stares right back at me. I know I look like a mess. I have to after all those battles I just went through to get here, but he stares anyway. I want to run to him. To check and make sure he's alright. I want to do anything but sit here frozen! But I'm so tired. In so much pain, that I can't move right now.

Something clicks in Suluk. I watch his eyes go from doubtful and weary, to frantic and love filled as he kicks the head away and kneels in front of me. His hand shakes softly as he reaches for me and I don't dare move.

Kieren's P.O.V.

I manage to finally get a hold of Suluk to let him know what I found in the woods, who now replaces Ava's body. I'm running back as fast as I can when I feel his emotions shift. I feel the exact moment he goes from rage and death, to relief and panic. I have to know what is happening right now!

Clover and I burst through the trees just in time to see the snow settling again and Suluk kneeling on the ground, slightly slouched over as if he is trying to protect something tiny with his body. He sits just a few feet away from a decapitated Ridge. When he turns slightly to stand, relief also fills my body as Ava sits there smiling up at Suluk softly. When he stands, he helps her to her feet. She looks exhausted as her legs shake slightly. She's too pale, her lips a soft blue, face smeared with mud and blood, while her eyes are starting to droop. Her body has been pushed past its limit. I can't help but start walking over to help her with healing. I've made up my mind that I'll help her then I'll go look for Zipporah again.

As Suluk picks Ava up gently to carry her away from the eerily silent battlefield, slowly making his way over towards us, Ginger's fire catches my eye as she rushes past. I look behind Suluk where she rushes towards the trees and my jaw nearly drops open. I'm a fool to think that this battle was over when we took Ridge out. Several enemies burst through the trees as I shift to my dragon form to stand between them and Suluk.

Releasing enough smoke to cause confusion amongst them, it also acts as a diversion to give Ginger cover to do her thing. I might not be fully healed yet, but at least Ginger is still on a roll right now. Clover even braves through the darkness to help. It doesn't take long before several of our soldiers are running into the darkness, trying to get their bearings and find someone to fight. I send out my shadows to keep those who are friends from getting in Ginger's way, or accidentally fighting each other in the confusion.

Several minutes pass before everyone is taken out and the smoke starts receding back to me. I watch as several people go to comfort others, or help them to a safe place to sit for now and wait for healers to show up. Clover slowly makes his way over to Ginger as she slowly shifts back to her normal state. Her flames slowly snuff out to be consumed back into her. Those cold, calculating eyes slowly give way to those soft golden eyes, quickly filling with tears. TEARS?! What has happened to make her cry like this?! Seeing her so upset after winning such a battle is odd, and makes me want to ask her questions. I manage to refrain from doing so, and will find out later I have no doubt.

In seconds Clover runs to her side as she falls to her knees and screams to the sky. I quickly shift and do the same, confusion rakes down the bond as it seems Suluk has started walking back with Ava to see what is happening. Clover holds Ginger in his arms, ignoring the pain of her body still boiling and not yet cooled down enough to be safe for him to touch yet, trying to comfort her as she sobs into his neck. His lavender eyes meet mine and confusion and pain are clear as daylight there. I'm as equally confused as I keep a small distance away, sending healing magic to him to keep his burns from becoming too serious.

She babbles, trying to tell us something, but it makes no sense. Clover does the best he can to comfort her as I send what's left of my shadows to wrap around him to keep him protected from her heat for now. Turning to see Suluk and Ava standing behind me instead. Ava stares at Ginger with a sad look, trying to reach her hand out to help the poor girl. Suluk holds her closely as his eyes look panicked and feral, staring at anyone trying to get close. I felt it then. The shift in him. The mate bond has set in fully and there's no more denying it. If his warning growls at anyone wandering too close didn't give it away, then the barely visible mark where his armor is cracked showing part of his chest next to where his heart sits, definitely does.

I approach cautiously, yet even still showing him that I'm no threat and moving slowly he growls lowly at me. Ava looks up at him shocked. I smile softly at her, trying to show I mean no harm. "It's alright Ava. I need you to calm him down for right now. Simple, small touches, and reassuring words should hold him over long enough to let him think and realize where he's at. To let him know that you're not in danger." I speak softly to her, never taking my eyes off of his. Next thing I know her bloody, broken hand slowly lifts to caress his cheek as best as she can. Softly spoken, reassuring words come from her in slow, small pants. His eyes slowly turn from me to her, his whole demeanor softening as he looks into her eyes lovingly. I sigh softly, angry I didn't realize how much pain she's in and how badly she needed my help sooner. I never even noticed her hand until now.

After a while, and lots of soothing words from Ava, Suluk calms down enough to return to his right mind. Allowing me to finally start healing her. I'm not able to fix everything, but I manage to make the worst of the pain stop and heal the worst of her wounds, before my magic is depleted. When I had to pop her shoulder back into place before healing it, I thought for sure that Suluk would rip my throat out. I'm now glad that she suggested to remain in his lap for the healing process, in case something like this happens. That thinking is probably the only thing that saved me from his wrath until she calmed him down again.

Exhausted and finally out of enemies, all of us sit there, in that blood soaked field, watching the sun slowly rise over the trees. We'll do all the hard, and painful work later, of cleaning up and recovering bodies to see who didn't make it. But for now, those of us who survived this battle will sit here and watch the sun rise thankful to be alive. Holding our friends and loved ones close as we cherish this moment and mourn those we know we've lost so far.