"Noah, do you know about Ethan,"asked Ahsid.

"I do."

Then, with a pause, he added,"It would be nice to have him back with us for a change."

"Were Ethan and Zion close to each other?"

Noah nodded. "Zion's father was an important man in the pack. The seniormost gamma to the King. Both the young prince and Zion grew up together side by side."

"So, why did Ethan suddenly leave?"

"They said that the young Prince craved freedom. The King died when he was just a boy and we had to hurriedly declare the next heir. But, Ethan refused to ascend the throne. Rumours have it that he wanted Zion to take his place."

Ahsid gasped in shock. She had no idea that Zion could very well be the Alpha King. Noah gave a soft smile.

"Zion did not take the chance. At that time, the vampires, sensing the turmoil attacked us. It was mayhem. Many of us lost our lives. My own mother perished."

A bitterness crept through his spine as he remembered his hatred for the nobility and the abject poverty that his kind was going through.

"Is that why Zion hates the vampires so much?"

"Indeed! So do I but we are all a part of the same Coetus which matters to us more than blood."

"But I do not understand. Why did no one search for Ethan this whole time?"

Noah sighed. "What can you do to bring a royal brat on to the throne when he clearly doesn't want to! He took measures to disappear entirely from our community, even disguising his scent, I guess. But how did you grow so close to him? After all, he is nothing but a cowardly lucky brat who would abandon his fellows without a split second of thought."

Ahsid swallowed. She had never seen Noah so angry. She looked into his purple eyes, long and hard. Noah felt his breath hitch. The colour of her eyes was rich like chocolate and soft as fur, indicating her contentment.

But, he knew that like their brief stint at sparring, they could quickly turn into the rocks the ships scattered against, in the storms.

".....wasn't always like that..."

Noah was woken up from his reverie by Ahsid waving her hand in front of his face.

He gave a polite laugh and whispered,"I am glad I got to know you."

"Me too, Noah. Has anyone ever told you that you are the most dependable and supportive person that one could ask for?"

"I...I am?"

Ahsid nodded in response. Suddenly, she cried out with joy,"Wow, what did Zen do? I feel better already!"

And she was right! The colour had returned to her face and she could stand taller on her own.

"Where are the others?"

"Morning is that time when we mostly relax and have a little of me-time. So, you probably won't see many of us around."

"Noah, can I get Ahsid for sometime,"asked Dane, materializing beside the two. His face had assumed the familiar neutral expression.

Noah nodded and shifting into wolf form, bounded off somewhere.

"Are you okay,"asked Dane.

Ahsid nodded. He took her hands in his and observed her fingers.

"What are you doing,"asked Ahsid curiously,"not that I am uncomfortable or anything but I'd like my hands to myself."

Dane gave a soft chuckle. "Sorry you had to see my tiff with Ibrahim."

"I suppose it was more than that.."

Dane perked up. "What do you mean?"

"There is some sort of a friction between you two."

Dane looked flustered. "Well...I..."

He casually ran his hand over his brown hair, pushing off a few strands from the middle of his forehead.

"Dane, if you feel hesitant, you don't need to tell me."

"Well, it's just that I don't like him. Also, he is our leader, so he has the potential to shut us up and I hate to take orders. No one can dictate my life."

Ahsid gave a small smile. "Or is it because he was elected the Leader and not you?"

Dane kept quiet, not meeting Ahsid's eyes. Ahsid laughed heartily.

"Well, why are you laughing,"asked Dane, half annoyed and half suprised.

"Dane, there's nothing wrong in being jealous. I am sure Ibrahim too isn't fond of you considering he is always worried he might loose his important position if he slips."

Dane's eyes widened, unsure of how to react to this new perspective.

"And if I am not wrong, you push him to be better, Dane."

"Do you really think so?"

Ahsid shrugged. But, she knew she had hit her point home.

Suddenly, a voice coughed from behind. "I have been telling that to him for ages but he never listened to me."

"Evangelina! Go away,"said Dane, trying hard to control his irritation.

"You need me down there. Also, I would love to know you more, Ahsid. I am sure you know how angels have been represented in your mortal culture and I would like to know more about it."

Ahsid smiled, nodding her head eagerly. Unlike Dora and Lola, Evangelina was somehow different. She was obviously powerful as her shield and heavy armour indicated, but her voice and personality hardly matched up with her aura.

"Gentle giant they say,"whispered Dane, winking and nudging her elbow.

Ahsid puckered her brows at Dane who gave a grin and then followed Evangelina who had already started to walk off.

"This is the Armory! WOWWW!!"

When Ahsid had been told where they were going, she had hardly expected it to be so fascinating.

Running around, she saw shields, chain mails, rapiers, massive scythes all stacked neatly in designated areas with the candlelight glow softly illuminating the statue of a woman in the middle of the room. Wooden cupboards and huge gilded chests only added to the quiet grandeur of the place.

Who would have thought of a place like this right under the mansion, in the basement ever existed?

"Is this a khopesh-"Ahsid tried to pick it up but failed to do so, falling to the ground.

Evangelina helped her up. "A khopesh is suprisingly heavy. You will need more muscles to wield a beast like that."

"Can you use the khopesh, Dane"asked Ahsid, her eyes shining bright.

Dane's face flushed. "I...I am..I am not as well built. Only Ibrahim can handle that. He is also adept with the lance and battleaxe."

Ahsid looked at Evangelina.

"Well, I prefer the gladius or the falchion."

"I checked her fingers. We are looking for something light and swift."

"Is that why you were holding my hands?"

Dane nodded.

Ahsid's jaw almost dropped. And here she had been thinking that perhaps it was his way of comforting her. Bah!

"I think rapiers would suit her," contemplated Evangelina.

"Or maybe this,"asked Ahsid, pulling out a long bladed greatsword.

Evangelina laughed. "A zweihänder!"

Dane explained further,"That one can be called a claymore or a zweihänder. It's characterized not so much by the length of the blade, but by a longer grip, designating it for a two-hand use. For effective use, you need a rare skill and strength which sadly, YOU DON'T HAVE."

Ahsid pouted. "How about this?"

She wasn't about to give up soon.

"A bastard sword,"noted Dane.

"Well, will this fit?"

"Yeah. It literally screams that you don't need a shield, you can wield it however you like-no rules and that the people you will be fighting will have a lot of armour."

"Umm...isn't that good?"

"No,"scowled Dane and intensified his search.

"Hmm...why can't I go for a gun or something?"

"Because you need strong and broad shoulders to handle a crossbow."

"But Dane, I didn't say a crossbow. I was thinking of a gun. You know...an AK-47 or a 2002 Magnum Special....What now?"

Both Dane and Evangelina stared at her.

"Man, thank god Harry isn't here."

Dane grinned. "2002 Magnum Special huh? You felt bored and became a mini expert on guns, I presume?"

Ahsid blushed red. "I didn't mean it that..."

"GOT IT,"bellowed Dane.

He ran to a small chest at the corner of the room,"I think I have the perfect weapon for you, girl."

"You ready,"asked Evangelina, as if catching on to Dane's line of thought.

Shrugging her shoulders, Ahsid stood with bated breath to watch Dane pull out something.....

A/N Top left- Bastard sword
Top right- Zweihänder
Bottom left- Rapier
Bottom right- Khopesh