Fly fly fly! Don't look back! Just fly!, she thought nonstop. Her legs carried her as swiftly as they would allow. The doe was not afraid. She had dealt with them before. But this time, they were much more persistent, and so many more than before. It would have been suicide to try to fight them here.

If only I had Dad's powers, I could stand up to them rather than run..., Zephyr thought. Making a turn, she bounded over the rock hounds, barely avoiding their fangs and infection. It was a bold move, and some have attempted only to fall short and into their predator's salivating jaws. Zephyr had learned from the best.

The skeletons skidded, changing course. A few slid into each other, crashing and becoming a mass of infection and bones. Those who kept their footing continued the pursuit. They wanted this doe badly, not only for the satisfaction of the kill...no, her scent was similar to Quad's. They knew she was of importance.

Zephyr ran toward the birch forest. Zigzagging, she managed to lose a few more who were too busy paying attention to her and not the trees they slammed into. Dumb wolves!, Zephyr thought, and nearing Red Hill, she climbed up the side of the highest point in the Forest. Running on instinct, the doe bounded into the air, expecting to make a perfect escape.

It was here that she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Letting out a cry, she lost her concentration, and landed hard onto the solid ground. The doe tumbled, the bones in her dainty legs snapping. She rolled to a stop, and motionless, she wailed in pain.

The moment she jumped, one of the rock hounds chasing her, an orange variety, shot at her from the distance. It's infection connected with her belly, a perfect, accurate hit. It was all that it took to send Zephyr from freedom to disaster.

And as the infection crept up her sides, she heard the rock hounds approaching. She tried to get up. She tried to move. Nothing would work. And without warning, one of the skeletal wolves sank it's fangs into her head, flailing violently, digging into her skull. The others quickly came and began to bite at her.

She mustered out one last word..."F...father!"

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It wouldn't be long until her mangled body was found. The first ones who spotted her knew from the deep wounds that it was the rock hounds who did it. They shook their heads in sadness and anger, speaking words such as, "Damn wolves, cutting down the lives of our children, and wasting their bodies. There is no honor in this!"

Before long, most of the Forest knew. At the first sound of it, Quad rushed to Red Hill, only to stop and stare in utter horror.

Zephyr, his beautiful daughter, was dead.

He approached, his eyes already beginning to tear. The blackbuck sat next to her, giving her slight nuzzles, hoping...praying that this wasn't real. He rested his head on her neck and began to sob hysterically. The others approached, wanting to console him, but not knowing the right words to say.

After this, Quad's emotions changed from sorrow to rage. He stood and ran off, not telling anyone where he was going.


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It was only a moment later when he arrived deep in the birch forest, and with a booming voice he called, "Iugulare! Show yourself!"

Silence for only a moment. His ears perked, and looking up to the treeline, he saw Nekumbra dropping down. "She is not available, darling. Is there something I can do for you?", the spider-doe spoke.

"Not available? Those #%$@ing rock hounds of hers just killed my daughter! I have to see her right now! We're settling all of this today!", Quad roared, his Grand Talux wings emerging on his back.

"Hmm...well, I'll see. But no guarantees, precious.", Nekumbra replied calmly, and climbed up the spider silk she was suspended from.


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Quad paced back and forth, anger and sadness both filling him. "Where is she?", he began to question.

Little did he realize that a pack of purple-eyed rock hounds were stalking him, ready to pounce...

Meanwhile, a few deer had gathered around Zephyr's body, watching over her, making sure no others would come and desecrate her body. One deer suddenly said, "Wait, look!", and staring at Zephyr, the others watched as her body reconstituted: the organs regrowing and pulling into her belly, her skin healing, open wounds sealing up. When it was done, she looked like she had just taken a nap on the blood-soaked earth.

Their eyes widened as Zephyr's body began to breathe again, watching her side gently expand and contract.

Then the doe opened her eyes, and blinking a few times, she sat up and yawned. "Wh...what happened? That dream...those rock hounds...they were...", she began to speak, completely unaware that she didn't dream her death from earlier.

"Zephyr? How are you...alive...?", one of the deer questioned.

The doe tilted her head, "What do you mean? I fell asleep, and...oh...blood? Whose blood is this here? And why am I so sore? Did I...really die?", she questioned at once, seeing the blood stains in the dirt.

"Oh no, Quad went to fight Iugulare over this! Zephyr, you should hurry and find your dad, he thinks you're dead!", a third deer said suddenly.

The doe stood wearily, and sniffing the air, she caught her father's scent. She walked in the direction, each step painful to her legs.

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She arrived to a horrific sight - her father laying on his side while three purple-eyed rock hounds had revealed themselves, standing over him in triumph, ready to bite into his neck. He was covered with their infection and gasping for air.

"Dad!!", Zephyr cried. The rock hounds raised their heads, startled to see her there. They turned to one another, moving their mouths as if they were speaking to one another, and at once their cloaking ability came into effect. They vanished before her eyes, but she could hear them approach.

"Z...zephyr...you're alive...?", Quad's weary breaths spoke.

"Yes, dad, I...I think I have your powers as well.", she replied, backing off. She knew the invisible rock hounds were close, and ready to attack her as well.

Quad struggled to stand, but he was in too much pain, and only watched the horror unfolding before him. He did not expect what was to happen next.

Zephyr closed her eyes, and concentrating, she was able to pinpoint exactly where the rock hounds were from the sounds they were making. They were already circling her. She focused, and at once her back burst into feathers, four great wings stretching out exactly like Quad's. It was at this point that she heard the rock hounds leap for her, and her body glowed vividly. The rock hounds in mid-air cringed and were blinded, missing her and hitting the ground with a loud thud.

Fearing for their safety, two of the purple-eyed rock hounds fled. The third one could not stand, and struggled nearby, the infection fizzing and bubbling. Zephyr approached it, and raising up, she stomped on it's skull, exposing the purple crystal within. With one swoop she knocked it out of the infection, and at that moment the mangled mess of bones ceased to move.

She immediately turned and ran to her father's side. "Dad! How bad does it hurt?", she questioned.

He hobbled to his hooves, leaning on his daughter for support. "It hurts, but I'll be okay. But...how...?", he began to question, now able to see her wings much better.

Zephyr smiled, "I am the daughter of the Grand Talux, you know.", she spoke proudly.

Quad returned a smile, and limping, he picked up the crystal of the rock hound she had defeated. "Come on, let's go to the Twin Gods. Maybe they can explain this.", he spoke, and began to go in the direction of the gods' hill. Zephyr followed, her wings slowly subsiding into her body.