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"You know, I'm really beginning to dislike you."

"That's hardly a way to start off a conversation, Kar'na."

Kar'na opened his eyes, to see his father sitting across from him. They were still in the forest clearing that the other individual had left him in earlier. Though Kar'na had experimented with escaping, the clearing proved impenetrable.

"You know what you...well, Khej, always used to say. 'Tell the truth when you can...'"

"'...and a lie when you must,'" Khej completed. "Yes, of course I know the quote. But now, here lies the question. Do you truthfully hate me, or are you just saying that to make yourself feel better? Who is it you truly hate?"

"Well, it's not myself," Kar'na said, standing up and stretching slightly. "That boat sailed a long time ago, with that vision."

"Not vision. _Memory. _ So, now that you've had a night to think, how are you feeling?"

Kar'na sighed. "When you showed me that memory, I felt nothing but disgust. What kind of damaged monster was I? I kind of sank into a bit of a pit, realizing what I'd done to Kyl'e. But then...seeing the aftermath...how Kyl'e didn't hate me...that shook me a little. I thought he would."

"Kyl'e's a bit more forgiving than most give him credit for," Khej smiled softly.

"And I'm glad for it," Kar'na said. "I moved beyond it. I feel more balanced. Am I recovering?"

Khej hesitated. "To be completely honest, you're getting worse. Doctors are unsure you're ever going to wake up. Something needs to happen, and fast."

"How are my friends? How is my brother?"

"Fine and fine," Khej waved away. "They escaped from the bandits with no problem. They picked up a new piece in the game as well."

"What piece?"

Khej stood up as well, and directed Kar'na to a bush, which he pushed aside to reveal a trail beyond. On the trail, walking in their general direction, was the group that was on their way for the antidote.

"Who's the caracal?" Kar'na asked quizzically, "He looks familiar."

"She is the new piece I was referring to. You may remember her from the Assassin Council."

"Shadi?" Kar'na asked incredulously. But now that he knew what to look for, there was no mistaking it. That caracal was definitely Shadi. "But...I thought you said Khej had forbidden any expeditions?"

"He did," not-Khej nodded. "Shadi isn't exactly here as a friend. Though the others have yet to figure it out, Shadi is on a mission from Khej. Last night, she made contact with Master Shep. The wolf is, as we speak, on his way back to the guild, to rally a squad to make for Treeline. Your group is headed to that same city."

"Backstabbing witch," Kar'na growled at Shadi, as the group passed by, giving no acknowledgement to Kar'na and the spirit.

"Go easy on her," Khej reprimanded. "She's just following her orders."

"That you gave her!" Kar'na exclaimed, belatedly remembering that this thing wasn't his father, but a spirit.

Khej smirked. "There we go. That was the reaction I was hoping for. Come."

Confused, Kar'na followed the spirit back into the clearing, when it turned to face him.

"You may have forgiven yourself, Kar'na, but you have yet to forgive your father."

"Nonsense," Kar'na brushed off. "My dad and I are good. I've matured from that monster I was when I was younger. I learned to change."

"Not enough, Kar'na," Khej shook his head. "You have more trials. Either you do as I say and live to see your brother again. Or you stau here, in this clearing, stuck in denial until you die. And you _will_die. Without my permission, you'll never wake up."

"Why are you doing this to me?" Kar'na demanded, tears in his eyes. "You're tearing me apart with these torments?"

Khej smiled. "'Sometimes, to make something great...'"

"'...you must destroy the old,'" Kar'na completed. "Why do you keep flinging my dad's quotes at me?"

"They work," Khej shrugged. "Now, are you going to get out of here?"

"You're right I am," Kar'na said, turning around, to where the new path was already waiting. "See you on the other side."

He took off down the path, into another memory.

Birds chirped gaily overhead, as the young wolf played. The sun beamed down, hot but not baking, as the wind gently pushed the white whips of cloud across the sky. Life really couldn't be better.

"Aha!" the young wolf shouted, catching the ball. "I got it!"

He skirted around one of his friends, a slightly-older lynx named K'eyush, and threw the ball to another friend, a lion named Dorsa.

Dorsa caught the ball, but was promptly tackled by a cheetah cub, who wrestled for the ball, before seizing it and running in the other direction.

Figures it'd be Aza. The cheetah was fast, even for a member of his species. Everyone on Kar'na's team took off after the cat, who reached the far end and threw it in the goal, right past J'tar, a young mountain lion.

"Point!" the oldest one in the group, a twelve-year-old black fox named Kezak'han announced. "That's five for K'eyush's team, and six for Aza's."

"Yes!" Aza shouted, pumping his fist in the air. "Game to seven?"

Heads nodded all around, and Kar'na's eyes narrowed. Seven points? That meant they needed two more to win.

"Ball," Kezak shouted, tossing it in the air. One of Aza's teammates, a highly-energetic wolverine named Na'jol, caught it swiftly, heading quickly toward's Kar'na's basket. Kar'na though, swiftly darted in front of him, snagging the ball, and running with it. Aza rushed out at him and Kar'na, not hesitating for a second, placed a hand on the cheetah's shoulder, vaulting right over him, before whipping the ball into the net.

"What th...uh, point for K'eyush's team!"

Cheers erupted, and K'eyush went over to Kar'na, patting him heavily on the back. "Great going kid! That was a heck of a move!"

"Thanks," Kar'na said, ears flattening in embarrassment. "I just wanted to get a point."

"Well," the lynx grinned. "Keep it up! We want to win!"

They got back into their positions, and Kezak'han opened his mouth, when another voice overrode his.

"Aza!" the voice called. "Come on, time for dinner!"

"Aww," Aza pleaded. "But mama-"

"Nope," the cheetah women said, emerging from her doorstep. "No buts this time. It's you favourite, rashti!"

Aza's ears perked up and he glanced apologetically at the rest of the group.

"Sorry guys, I got to go!"

"Enjoy your dinner," Kezak'han bid, as the cheetah left. Now the teams were unbalanced, so Kezak'han shrugged and got ready to play as well.

"J'tar!" the mountain lion's mother bid, coming out of her door. "It's dinner time for us too, kit."

"Alright," J'tar sighed. "Coming mom."

Kezak'han looked at the others, after they'd waved goodbye to J'tar.

"Should we just call it a tie?" he asked, provoking a slur of head-nodding around the table. "Well, tie it is. We should all head home. Don't want our mother's yelling at us."

"Nope," Kar'na agreed, shaking his head. "See you tomorrow guys!"

"Until tomorrow," Kezak'han nodded.

The group broke apart, each returning to their respective homes. Kar'na ran the short ways down the street to his house, going through the open door and into the main room beyond.

"Hi mom!" he said excitedly. "Is dinner ready soon?"

"Right away, pup," his mother laughed, kissing the top of her head. "Did you have fun?"

"We almost won mom!" Kar'na said enthusiastically. "I tied the game! I pushed myself over Aza's head and threw the ball into the net."

"Is Aza alright?" Kar'na's mom asked worriedly.

"He's fine," Kar'na said. "He was just a little mad that we got the point. I wish you could've seen it!"

"I wish so too," his mother smiled. "Now, dinner's ready."

Kar'na's mom speared a piece of meat from the pot she was tending over the stove, and put it on a wooden plate. She speared a smaller piece for Kar'na, before adding some greens and handing it to Kar'na.

Then, the two of them went to the family room, sitting cross-legged on the dirt floor.

"Don't forget to eat your vegetables," Kar'na's mom warned him.

"Why?" Kar'na whined, already dreading the taste of the little green horrors. "They taste funny!"

"But without them, you'll never grow big and strong like your father."

"But then why do you have to eat them? You're already all grown up!"

"Because," she said, a small smile touching her lips. "I have to eat good food, so the baby will grow up big and strong too."

She rest a hand on her well-rounded stomach as she said this, a content smile upon her face.

"Is dad coming home soon?" Kar'na asked, taking a bite of meat with a vegetable. "I haven't seen him in a long time!"

"He should be down in a week," Kar'na's mom said, smiling at her son. "Don't worry, you'll see him soon."

Kar'na was just about to answer, when a slight ringing sound outside diverted his attention.

Dong.

"What's that, mama?"

"That's an alarm bell," Kar'na's mom said slowly, standing up. "Wonder what's going on?"

Kar'na started to stand up, but his mom held up a hand. "No, stay here Kar'na. I'll be right back."

She went to the door, looking out. The bell kept ringing, and Kar'na could hear his mom speaking urgently with someone outside. Suddenly, Kar'na heard screams, cries, and shouts added to the bells.

His mom rushed back in, picking him up quickly and deeper into the house.

"What is it, mama?" Kar'na asked urgently, sensing his mother's fear. "What's going on?!"

"We're under attack!" his mother answered, not mincing words. She carried Kar'na to a back closet, and quickly put him in the little room. "Now, listen very closely, Kar'na. Do not, under any circumstances, open this door. Okay?"

"But I don't understand mama!" Kar'na protested, beginning to cry. "What's going on?"

"Shh," his mother said, kissing him once on the top of the head. "Shh, it's okay. Stay here. Either me or your father will be back for you. Don't leave this closet? Promise me?"

"I...I promise, mama."

"Good," she said, kissing him once again. Tears were in her own eyes, and her voice shook, but she seemed steely with resolution.

There was a loud bang from the front entrance, and Kar'na's mom spun around. Kar'na couldn't see the panic in her eyes, but it was evident from her body language.

"Stay quiet," she urged again, closing the door quickly, leaving Kar'na in the dark. He huddled into a ball, abject fear present.

Outside, he heard a few loud bangs, followed by his mom screaming. Kar'na wanted nothing more than to rush out and help her, but she'd told him to stay put. Her screams stopped suddenly, and all that could be heard outside were a few bangs and a scratching, huffing sound.

"Check the house," a voice ordered.

Kar'na shivered. That tone was monstrous. The sound of a violent monster baying after a victorious hunt.

Without warning, the door opened, revealing the leering face of a brutish reptile.

"Hey boss!" he shouted. "I've got a k - ah!"

He didn't finish, as Kar'na lunged out of his hiding spot, fueled by rage and terror. He grappled the Falskin about the neck, dragging him to the ground, where he proceded to strike at his face with his small fists.

The bandit seemed to have been totally caught off guard, as he was unable to block many of Kar'na's blows. Finally, he landed a solid blow, knocking the wolf pup off. The bandit rolled over and grabbed his sword, which had been discarded in the scuffle.

His eyes locked onto Kar'na and narrowed, laser sharp and deadly. He swung down at the wolf pup, who rolled skillfully away. The bandit's sword hit the ground, and Kar'na struck out, kicking him in the arm.

The sword clattered to the ground again, and the bandit drew his knife, a long carving knife, slightly curved.

"You're dead pup," he growled, the words cold and frightening.

The bandit lunged in again, and Kar'na barely dodged. He couldn't keep this up, and they both knew it. The bandit stabbed downwards at Kar'na, who slipped out of the way and redirected the knife into the bandit's own leg. Evidently, his father's words rang true: Kar'na was a born assassin.

The bandit howled in pain and Kar'na kicked him in the jaw, flooring him. In his backwards tumble, the bandit had pulled the knife out of his leg and it had flung free. Now the weapon, bloodied and shining, sat near Kar'na, waiting to be used.

The bandit struggled to sit up, only to see the adrenaline-charged wolf pup flying through the air towards him, blade ready. Fear was the last thing present in the bandit's eyes, before Kar'na plunged the blade deep into the right one.

Blood spurted as the bandit cried out, falling to the floor and convulsing, before laying still. Kar'na pulled the knife out, numb to the world.

He'd just killed someone. Sure, that someone was an attacked who would've killed him if given the chance, but a kill was a kill, and could not be dimmed down.

"You!" a voice thundered. Kar'na turned, only to see a blade flashing towards him. There was no time to move, and it struck the pup in the face, the deadly tip carving a long groove from the base of his muzzle to the middle of his forehead.

Kar'na screamed at the pain, falling backwards and scrambling back. The reptile who'd swung the sword stood over him, murder written on his face.

"Oh you'll scream, pup," he promised. "I will cut you to pieces, bit by bit, and through the pieces in a fire! No one kills my little brother!"

"And no one harms my mother!" Kar'na shouted, leaping towards the bandit, who stepped back in surprise. Kar'na hit him about the midriff, using well-used arms to pull himself up and stab before the bandit could recover.

The knife slashed messily through the slaver's neck, and he fell back with a gurgling shout, crumpling to the floor. The bandit behind him, eyes wide in surprise and fear, turned to run, and Kar'na instinctively threw his knife.

Perhaps it was skill. Perhaps it was providence. Perhaps it was simply dumb luck, but that knife spun end-over-end, embedding itself right in the neck. The bandit faceplanted and lay still.

Kar'na, in a semi-daze, walked forwards, grabbing the knife. He just felt numb and senseless. Three bodies. Three. All ended by his one.

The sound of footsteps in the house brought Kar'na to the immediate present. Another slaver...

Soon he would be just another body.

"Father," Kar'na said softly, curled in the corner of his house. "Why didn't you come? Why weren't you here?"

The wolf was a pitiful sight. Sitting upright in the corner, knees drawn up to his chin, Kar'na was traumatized. His hands gripped the knife, crusted with dried blood. His fur was dirty and clumped, with red streaks darting everywhere. Flies like an army of filth flew around, landing on his fur and nesting deep, biting the soft flesh below.

Kar'na made no move to acknowledge the little pests, locked as he was in the darkness of his own mind. He'd had nothing to eat for a week, and nothing to drink for many hours. His throat was parched and his head pounded.

But he noticed none of this.

"Father," Kar'na repeated again, his eyes trying to summon what liquid remained in his frail body into tears. "I needed you. You could've stopped this."

The door cracked open, and Kar'na heard voices outside. Another onslaught? They would die as the rest.

Kar'na slipped into the present in a hazy way, flicking his ears to rid himself of the flies.

"Kar'na!" a voice cried. "Safi!"

Footsteps echoed in the house, and suddenly, the familiar face of Kar'na's dad, Master Khej, peeked into the room, followed by the rest of him.

"Kar'na?" he whispered, looking at the naked wolf. "It's alright son. I'm here."

Khej approached the wolf who, without warning, flew at him, knife blade flashing. Khej, caught by surprise, barely managed to get out of the way of the slashing blade. Kar'na landed, before turning around to slice at Khej's legs.

The Master Assassin, ready this time, danced away, and Kar'na leapt at his face, teeth flashing as he went for a bite kill. This illusion would die, as had all the slavers in the house. His father didn't come. His father wouldn't come. Kar'na would be here until he died.

Khej put his leather-clad forearm out, and Kar'na's teeth sank savagely into it, as his arm brought the knife to bear on Khej's throat.

Khej though, wasn't going to let that happen. He caught the pup's wrist, pinching the right tendons in the wrist so that Kar'na couldn't help but drop the knife. Then, he grabbed Kar'na.

"Kar'na!" Khej cried, looking Kar'na in the eyes. "It's me! It's your father."

Kar'na struggled for a bit, before his golden eyes locked onto Khej's. Terrified yellow into placating blue.

Kar'na stopped struggling, and Khej shifted his grip, holding Kar'na in a tight, fatherly embrace.

"It's alright son," he said, tears freely dampening the fur around his eyes. "I'm here now. And I'm never leaving you. You hear me? Never leaving you!"

And Kar'na wept, a tearless sorrow. Footsteps echoed as a few more assassins gathered at the door, unwilling to break this bond.

Kar'na was unaware of how long he was held like that, just him and his father, but it could've been days for all he knew. Khej's strong arms held Kar'na, refusing to release him. The world may have tried to take everything from him, but the world hadn't reckoned on this pup.

"Come Kar'na," Khej said softly, standing with Kar'na still hugged tight to his chest. "Let's go home."

Kar'na's eyes began to droop, but he surveyed the faces of the other assassins as they stepped aside to allow Khej through. Their expressions each could clearly echo a different emotion. Sorrow, empathy, muted happiness, anger, determination, resolve.

And Kar'na's eyes met with every single one of them.

A day. That was how long Kar'na slept, upon his return to the guild. Many people beyond his father came and interacted with him in this time. Gentle hands cradled his body, cleaning the fur, removing the blood. Practiced minds studied the infections and wounds. Peaceful souls spent hours upon the pup's eye, making sure it healed.

And every single person, assassin and doctor alike, could feel only awe and horror at what this pup had gone through. Seventeen. That was the final kill count. This pup had killed seventeen people, all experienced bandits and slavers.

This pup was beyond the scope of mere mortals.

"The Demon!" several of their Falskin prisoners insisted. "That thing is the Demon of Winterwrath. It swung like a slashing dervish. That house is cursed. You're holding a cursed child!"

The warnings fell on deaf ears. This was no cursed child. This was Kar'na. The son of Master Khej, the Master Assassin of Strategy. Kar'na was a warrior. A born warrior. Something no Falskin could comprehend.

When Kar'na finally woke up, he lunged upwards, screaming. His hands wrapped firm around the throat of the monstrous reptilian looming over his bed, and he twisted pinning the reptile to the ground.

Strangely enough, the monster began to laugh, a rough, soulless sound.

"You haven't won, pup," it sneered. "You failed, and your father failed."

With that horrifying, ripping laugh, the reptilian disappeared, leaving Kar'na with curled hands on the wooden planks of the Guildhall. There was nothing beneath him but the wood of the structure.

Kar'na staggered to his feet, wondering why his muscles felt so weak. He needed to get back home. His mother would worry when she came back, if her son wasn't there.

He stumbled out into the hall, right in front of an assassin, who rushed to pick him up.

"Kar'na!" he said. "You're awake!"

"I need to get back," Kar'na insisted, trying to squirm out of the assassin's arms. "My mother will worry when she comes back!"

"Kar'na, listen to me," the assassin said, grabbing Kar'na firmly by the shoulders and looking him in the eye. "Your mother won't be back at the house. Your father is out searching for her, alright?"

"Is she dead?" Kar'na asked, looking straight into the assassins soul.

"Come on kid," the assassin said, surpressing the surge of fear he'd felt looking into those eyes. "Let's get you back to your room."

"Is she dead?" Kar'na repeated.

The assassin weighed his words carefully.

"We don't know. Your father is out searching for her. Never give up hope kid. Come on, let's get you back to bed. You need food."

He picked Kar'na up effortlessly and brought him back into the room. The naked wolf pup didn't struggle, knowing deep down the assassin was right.

The assassin set Kar'na down on the bed and, with a promise of being right back with food, left the room. Kar'na looked to the empty chair in the corner.

"Father," he murmured. "You promised you'd never leave me."

At this, Kar'na broke down, weeping into the pillow, as spiritual Kar'na broke free of the pup's body. He looked down at his old self, wanting to hug the weeping wolf pup.

"You never really forgave him," K'eyush said, appearing beside Kar'na. "He promised you he would never leave."

"And then when I wake up, he's gone. I don't see him for weeks," Kar'na muttered bitterly. "I believe his definition of 'never' is quite different from mine."

"See?" K'eyush said, gesturing in his direction. "Even now you're still bitter. Come with me."

They walked through the open door, through the assassin, who paid them no heed. Once through the doors, they found themselves in a desert-like area.

"Where are we?"

As if in answer, a greyish-white wolf passed through them, hand over his brow, which was furrowed in concentration.

"No sign," he whispered, from a throat bare of water. "Don't you worry son, I will find your mother."

And with that, the wolf huffed and started a jog in the desert again. Kar'na watched his dad jog off.

"He knew it was hopeless, you know," K'eyush commented idly, watching Khej. "The odds of finding your mom were exponential The slavers from your town went everywhere with their...merchandise. Khej had no idea where to even _start_looking. All he wanted, was for you to have your mother back."

"You could have explained that anywhere," Kar'na noted, looking around at the desert. "Why'd you pick here?"

"Because here is the tipping point. It was here where Khej made the decision. He wasn't searching for his mate; he was searching for your mother. All he wanted at this time, was to find your mother."

K'eyush rested a hand on Kar'na's shoulder.

"Your father nearly died trying to find your mother. Captured and tortured by slavers, chased by mobs, threatened by Falskin lords. At one point, he even got into a fistfight with a cactus."

Kar'na glanced at him.

"Long story," K'eyush promised him. "Ask your dad about it someday. It's worth a listen."

The scene folded back into the clearing, and Kar'na stood there, having just been forced to relive his trauma all over again. There was an old Ch'kiliil proverb, reading that 'the hottest of fires forge the greatest of weapons'. Were this proverb true, that meant Kar'na was a mighty weapon indeed.

"Can you find it in you to forgive your father?" K'eyush asked, sitting down across from Kar'na.

"My dad...made mistakes. But so have I," Kar'na noted. "He'd never have been able to stop them all. He has no guilt."

"He has guilt," the spirit affirmed. "If he didn't, I wouldn't be asking you to forgive him. I'd be telling you to get over it."

Kar'na chuckled ruefully. "Can I ask you a question?"

"You just did."

"Fine," Kar'na smiled slightly. "Can I ask you two questions?"

"You already have," the spirit answered with a smirk.

"So be it, can I ask you four questions?"

"You already have."

"When?"

"Just now," the spirit smiled. Kar'na let out a full laugh, which dispersed some of the negative feelings he'd been carting.

"But in all seriousness," K'eyush said, when the clearing was silent. "What do you wish?"

"Can you choose one aspect please?" Kar'na asked. "You keep appearing as different people, and it consistently is throwing me off."

"Of course, Kar'na," the spirit bowed. "I will appear as only one person. In fact, I will appear as a new aspect next time."

"Thank you," Kar'na grinned. "You going to leave me alone with my thoughts again?"

But the spirit was already gone. Shaking his head, Kar'na huffed and bowed his head, thinking deeply about all he'd just gone through. Again.