"Don't worry, conetontli." A sweet voice said. A person, maybe a woman, laughed, and tossed him again. Dani giggled and burbled. He was caught by a pair of hands, and they held him carefully.

"I will always catch you." A different, coarser, but still caring voice added.

"I will always make sure you are safe." The first voice crooned, seeming to come from the same place.

"I will always make sure you defeat your enemies." The second voice continued.

"I will always care for you." The two voices seemed to mold into one voice, and something hissed in the background.

"Mother. Give me my son." A deep, smoky voice said. "My bride isn't in any shape to see you throwing her child around." Dani was passed into strong arms, muscular, but tender.

"Yes, let me see my baby." A broken voice said. "My baby." The voice was Zammi's and she sounded exhausted. There was a disappointed hiss as Dani was handed from the strong, thick arms of the man -his father?- to Zammi.

"Oh, my sweet." Zammi whispered, cradling him in her arms. Sweat gleamed on her forehead, but she smiled all the same. Her characteristic white hair surrounded her, haloing the two. "My baby." Her grip loosened, as she relaxed, and her breathing slowed. Soon, she was asleep.

"Here we are." the deep voice rumbled, and a man's face came into view. He pulled Dani from Zammi's grip, and back into his arms.

It was a handsome face, with high set cheekbones and finely cut features, just like Dani's. The man had the same shaped face as Dani, and his smile was kind. Feathers grew on his head, laying in such a fashion that they looked like a crown. "My beautiful baby." He muttered, and put his lips on Dani's forehead, his voice full of pride.

So this was Dani's father.

"He's beautiful, Quetzalcoatl." A second voice said grudgingly. "But I think he got most of his looks from his mother."

"No doubt she's a beauty, Xolotl, but this is all his own." Quetzalcoatl mused, his eyes still on Dani's face. Dani gurgled in babyish glee.

"I never took you for one who would be good father." Xolotl said, trying to get a jab in. He seemed upset, bitter even. Dani couldn't imagine why.

"Neither did I." Quetzalcoatl admitted, and turned to face the other god, who Dani couldn't quite see. "Maybe this can mark a new era for us."

"The last time we started a new era, you killed me." Xolotl deadpanned. "I do not think I wish to start a new era."

"I am sorry about that, brother."

"No, you're not. But may I?" Xolotl asked, and Quetzalcoatl handed Dani over to him. The face of his uncle hovered over Dani, annoyed at first, then smiling softly. It resembled the face of his father, but more hollow, angular, and sharper, like the edge of a knife. His eyes held darkness, but it was soft darkness. It appealed to Dani, but something else called him away from it.

Xolotl blinked, slowly, and Dani reached up with his little baby fist. "Demigod, eh?" He touched Dani's fist.

***

Dani lay on the ground, bleeding from his neck, chest, and forehead. The Ichneumon had long let go of his neck, running for its life. The lionesses were morning, their heads dipped in grief. Dani knew that Ariel, his mate, would live, with her child, but he feared for them. But that later. Right now, he should be worried about himself.

"Amber." He coughed, feeling weak to move. "Amber please."

"Oh Dani." Amber walked over and sunk down next to him, her whole body shaking. She lifted his head onto her lap, and Dani felt tears fall onto his forehead. "I'm so sorry."

Before Dani could ask what, Zammi cleared her throat, and Dra stepped forward. Dani blinked slowly, and his sister smiled at him. She raised her hands, and placed them on Amber's brow.

"I crown you, Amber Pearl Mairéad, King of the Silver Mages. You are the one true constant in this world, in any world. We are in debt to you. Rule us well." Dra smiled, still shaking from her time in the grip of Seth.

"My baby. Oh, my baby." Zammi's voice broke, her eyes tearing up. "Noconetzin, I am so glad you are alright and back with me." She gripped Dani tighter.

"Yeah." Amber looked like she was swallowing a frog. "Z-Zammi." She stuttered.

"Is something wrong, Amber?" Zammi said, coldly. "I don't see anything wrong with this. We won, child."

"Dani will have to leave. I can't undo the ruling of Seth quite yet. I don't have enough support."

You could have heard a pin drop. Everyone was silent.

"What." Zammi said, like it wasn't a question, just a statement of total horror. "What does that mean, Amber?"

"I don't have the power to do undo it yet." Amber said. "Please understand, Zammi, that this isn't what I want."

"You're nothing but a traitor." Zammi snarled, and bared her fangs, dripping venom as green as sea glass. "Traitor!" she flung herself at Amber, but Dani struggled to his elbows.

"Mother!" he called and Zammi froze at his voice. "It's okay, Zaza, I'll go. I don't mind. I've only known you for a few weeks. I don't want to make things worse. We've just won a war. We shouldn't make more." He stuttered, looking up at Amber, who stroked his hair with an affection Dani hadn't known.

"Thank you." She whispered, leaning down to his ear. "I promise, I'll try to bring you back."

"Then you must leave with the King and never return." Zammi said, and started to sob. "I can't watch."

"Why?" Dra sobbed, leaning against her mother's side. "Amber, why?"

"I will go." Dani said, as Amber traced fingers along his chest and neck, healing them until they faded into raised scars. She lifted him up, and they both limped along, to the cave.

"There's a second exit in the back. I can't help you get back to North America, but if you fly fast after a few days of rest, you'll be fine." Amber said.
"Thank you Amber."

"Why are you thanking me? I just ruined your life. You should be mad at me. I'm mad at me."

"Yeah, but there had to sacrifice. This is the least of it. We're all alive, there's peace." Dani said, trying for a brave smile. Amber gave a sob as she embraced Dani. Dani patted her on the back. "It's gonna be okay."

"No, it's not." Amber sobbed.

Then, with tears in her orange eyes, she kissed Dani. She kissed him with such a passion that he forgot what was happening. Pulling away, she pushed him. "Leave." Her voice broke. "Leave before I have to hurt you. I don't want to hurt you. But these are Silver Lands."

"I know Amber. It's okay. Thank you for the magic, even if it was only for a little bit." Dani smiled sadly, and turned his back, walking out of the cave.

Amber stood still until his outline disappeared from her line of sight.

Then, Amber Pearl, the sixtieth Silver King, fell as if struck, hugging her knees, and started to sob. The ragged cries wracking her body, Amber knew, she just knew that there would never be enough words to tell Dani how sorry she was.

"I'll bring you back." She gasped. "I'll bring you back."

That, she knew, was a promise.

I'm late, my lovelies, I know! I'm sorry! What happened was this, as crazy as it sounds. My sister woke up at 1 am today, and climbed into bed with me, and she cuddles around people, and she just to be cuddling my face, so I nearly suffocated. Then, at like 7am, my mother burst into the room to get my sister and to also inform me that I had to make a cheesecake.

Just so you know, cheesecake's take forever to bake. But I did it. Then I had to go to work from 2:30pm to 5:30, then out to dinner with my grandparent. I just got home.

And I didn't even get to try my cheesecake :(

QOTD: What is the show you are currently obsessed with?

For me, it's Grey Anatomy. Alex Karev is my favorite, mostly because he emits my sarcasm.

DON'T BE A SILENT READER!! Vote, Comment, and share this story! I'm gunning for Watty's, and I need all the help I can get!

C.J out!