{~~~~○~~~~} 

The Gentle breeze, the sounds of the swaying trees; it is all the things I enjoy about the forest, especially the sound of my three, near so three-year old, Elven-Butterfly Fawns as I witnessed hiding my smile behind the left black sleeves of my kimono, them teaming up and tackling their father onto the ground. 

I chuckled when I heard him groan, and watched him sit up crossed legged with a playful scowl as he then used his Monarch antennas to pick up my youngest and my oldest, while our son stayed perched on his lap wiggling his deer fur covered elf ears. 

"You three have a hard time playing nice with Papa~."

I heard raspberries as I heard my mate, the beautiful father of my children return it instantly causing all three of them to laugh and me to smile while leaning the side of my left head against the frame of a Japanese sliding door.

See ever since my younger brother, Gus destroyed the tree that Plague this world with a virus that killed off nearly all the human, and began the New Dawn with Hybrids, a new tree grew in its place from his broken horn that my mate stated was due to the decaying flesh, plus the iron grip that Doctor Singe had on it, when he went to explore the cave for survivors with mister Jepp.

However, that was nearly three years ago, and during that time I still have things to silently thank mister Singe for, the scene in front of me is one.

The other, I'm carrying, as I watch my mate, my Alpha pick up our little one from his lap and place him on the back of his neck before gracefully walking to me, kneeling in front of the porch I rest upon. 

He carefully places the girl's in his antennas gently to my right, before placing his left palm over my protruding stomach, gently releasing his pheromones to calm the swimming little one within me.

I released a breath of slight relief, because even though the little one within my body is yet ready to kick, swimming is what seems to satisfy itself as a form of alert for my mate and I.

"Seems like the little one's making themselves known again~."

I groaned out a chuckle with closed eyes, as the girl's and my son on the neck of the god-like man in front me, followed in suit.

"Indeed they are." I then gently placed my right hand overtop of his left, as we both release our pheromones to let the small one know that their message was received before I carefully raise my knees up to point to the ceiling so he could press his body by mine, while curling his knees on the underside of my thighs. "You should relax." I turn my gaze from my tummy to him. "You had triplets nearly three years ago. That still causes some predicaments, and I still have some fear lingering within my own thoughts." 

I felt my eyes soften, for I know what he means, and carefully turned my head left into his neck, nipping his skin, resulting in his temperature heating up.

"My fears are yours, all we can do is stay vigilant as well be careful with every action."

I felt him nod his head as well as he placed his lips along my right Temple.

"That we will, I really look forward to meeting this one~."

I giggled at his words, before feeling his form tense up and pulled back slightly only to see his purple eyes narrow in a certain direction over the valley, causing myself to worry.

"Is everything alright?"

He didn't respond, but I noticed him flinching and accidentally released his pheromones which caused me to beckon my son off his shoulders with all the children cuddling into me shivering.

"Claude?"

It was then that my Elven ears picked up the sounds of rushed steps, and carefully lifted my upper body off of my mate. 

I turned my figure carefully to look around him and towards the back view, only to gain witness to my brother, Wendy, miss Becky and mister Jepp running our way with a frantic look, breathing rather hard.

"Gus?"

"We need to leave!!" My eyes immediately widened with shock, as well as concern when I felt Claude tense up. "THEY'RE COMING!!! We need to get you somewhere safe!!"

About to retort with a question, I was stopped by howls and monstrous screams.

Turning my gaze to face what would be North-East for me, I watched cautiously as trees started to shake, but what set me off was what appeared to be most of those trees sinking instead of falling.

"Beaver Hybrids–" "Yeah and lots of them, Claude we have to go now!!!"

Looking up to Claude he immediately cages me into his arms, and uses both his antennas to pick-up the children, resting our son on top of my stomach, while I use my powers to encase and condense the girl's into a small gem. 

"Place Lyserg inside with them." I immediately looked to Claude, who was gracefully running right behind the others. "That way we both will know that they are safe together."

Seeing his point I nodded, went to do so.

"Mother?"

I immediately felt tears well up in my eyes.

"You'll be safe in here with your sister's." He looked like he was about to cry, so I brought my forehead to his, and carefully stroked his antlers as well as his antennas, while placing his hair behind his fuzzy Elven, right ear. "Mommy and Papa will release you when we all deem it safe."

I watched his face give off a reluctant look, before finally nodding and I placed the gem to the center of his forehead, watching as he disappeared within it.

I clutched the stone in my hand, and carefully brought it to my chest, and noticed the howls, the screams...

... they all stopped, and the others noticed.

Gus and mister Jepp were cautiously looking around, as a military truck burst through the tree line; Gus and I immediately knew who it was that was inside, due to seeing the four wolf Hybrids, as she herself opened the door to reveal herself, along with her wolf-like ears.

"Miss Rosie!!!" I watched Gus immediately run to her with Claude and the other's following in suit, as I noticed Rosie was on edge, while Gus just sighed in relief I believe. "Thank goodness you're here."

I watched her smile as Becky returned it shyly. 

"Where've you been? ?!?! NOT THat I was worried or anything!!"

I chuckled at Becky's tsundere response, because she was acting in a similar way to how I did when I first met Claude when he was human.....

It's typical Omega behavior, rather they were born with the label naturally like me, or changed in order to live on with our children....

.... Just like what Claude did.

"While I'm glad you guys are alive, we have a problem."

We all blink, as I felt Claude tighten his grip.

"A problem?"

Rosie nods her head, before I witness her clenching her, bringing her right hand up and over her hat, tilting it down to hide the top half of her face.

"Someone broke into my research lab, they stole Frie's medical files." I felt Claude tense as my eyes widened, as I watched her make eye contact with both my mate and Gus. "They know about the serum, not the recipe; they are aware that—"

"Only some know the recipe, but only a natural born Omega can create it."

She nodded, which results in me hearing Gus and Wendy gasp, as mister Jepp growls along with miss Becky.

"Which means—" "Sweet Tooth."

I turned, along with Gus, to see mister Jepp with a serious expression.

"It's not safe here for your sister in her current state." I looked at Gus and saw his hands clench. "We need to get her and the children safe first."

I turned my attention to Becky who nodded in agreement, along with her transfigured Alpha, Miss Rosie.

"While I agree with you, how do we go about it?" We all turned our attention to the howls and screams that began again, it caused Rosie's quadruplets to growl, hairs elevated on edge. "Because unless you know of a place that sturdy enough to survive, whatever that is—" Seven tall Sycamore trees that stood over the side if the mountains in the very far view, far enough to where those trees looked like tooth-picks, but still be able to depict what they are........ they just fell straight down into the earth, as if it sunken into the ground, when she said those words. "---There won't be anywhere to hide, let alone be safe for them." 

Everyone just stood quietly, as I heard Gus take a deep breath, as I felt Claude tighten his arms around my arms and legs.

"There's a way." All of our eyes went to Gus, but I didn't see Claude's eyes narrowed, or his teeth clench. "Claude and I found a tomb, it looked like someone made a home out of it, but then left it."

I just blinked at Gus in confusion.

"A tomb??"

He nodded and turned his head to me.

"Apparently, it was home to another Omega and Alpha, however this Alpha wasn't transfigured."

My eyes, along with the others in front of me, widened at Gus' words.

"A natural born Alpha? What about the Omega??"

I watched his ears stand up, and turn his entire body towards me.

"From what I learn in the books, the Omega was female; a natural born like big sis; the Alpha was the very same but male."

I was astonished by this, and I can tell that Rosie and the others were as well, as Wendy walked up to Gus.

"Does it say what happened?"

He just hums, as we all had heard the howls get closer, and so we make a secret agreement to pile into the military truck and take off into the woods.

"That's the thing!!" We all have our attention on Gus, as Rosie, Becky, Claude and mister Jepp keep their eyes on either the road or the surrounding area, however due to the wind, as well as the tires on the rough road, we have to scream in order to speak to the other. "The Omega was a Witch of some sort, the Alpha was also something alien, apparently she got pregnant and when she gave birth it was to the very first Hybrid!!"

My eyes widened, as I then felt the truck ride on smooth road, allowing us to speak quieter.

'I thought I was the only one?!' My eyes softened at the thought of what this Omega went through before the divide between the humans and Hybrids. 'Hold up—' 

"Gus." I felt his eyes on my frame. "There can't be two of the first Hybrids. If that's true then—"

"That's another thing, amor meu." I immediately bring my eyes to the beautiful purple irises that have been avoiding everyone since this topic started. "Within' the text, found that after the birth of the baby, it accidentally created a scent that alert all the mortal born Alphas—"

'How? That sounds exactly—'

"While at the same time, another baby hybrid was born from the only Beta in this world. This baby ended up doing the very same thing, but since the father was human, he managed to help the Beta hide that baby's scent with plants and his own blood."

I gulped, as I felt the nervous waves coming off of Miss Rosie.

"What– what happened to them?" I felt all the eyes go to Rosie. "The Alpha and Omega, along with the baby I mean."

Gus stayed silent.

"I don't know." All of us looked at Gus in confusion, as we saw his ears perk up, while mine did the same due to hearing the sound of music?? "This is the place."

"Claude." He hummed at Rosie, as I watched Gus leap from the truck as it barely came to a stop. "What did Gus mean by "I don't know."?"

"......" His silence was more deafening than the silence that surrounded us, before I felt his chest rise and expand, telling me that he took a deep breath. "It's a video, but there's a magic seal that I can't break." He then looks and makes eye contact with me after I remove my eyes from Gus walking to the front entrance. "However, Gus believes that because this couple was natural born Alpha and Omega, that you could possibly do the very same."

He then picks me up carefully, leaps out of the truck bed with the beautiful grace of the Monarch, and follows the same path Gus took with the others following.

Entering the home, I was in utter awe; the dust aside, the home was beautiful: the wall tapestry of a crescent moon, the beautiful bed frame, the well constructed walls.

Claude placed me down, and I walked around until my eyes caught sight of the small basket, small enough for a newborn baby.

I carefully kneeled down and picked the small black slicked blanket to examine the beautifully stitched designs when something fell onto the ground in front of me, creating a sound loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Frie??" I heard Claude and Gus walk up to me, as I picked up the item that fell with my right hand as I heard Gus speak again. "What was that??"

I examined the item in my hand, and saw a chain that was wrapped through a small metal loop; I also took notice of a small Crack along the side of the item and the other side had a small hinge on the side. 

'Is this what mother called a necklace??' I just blinked as I rubbed my thumb over the smoothness of what appears to be a gem and some form of engraving on it. 'It beautiful.'

"I believe this is a locket."

I felt Gus kneel to my right, and carefully took it to examine it with curiosity as well as confusion.

"A locket??"

I nodded my head and gave him my full attention, as everyone else came into the same room we were in.

"Yes, I remember mother telling me about it, father taught me how to make one, but it would need a picture otherwise it's just an empty wood carving with no memories in it to serve its purpose."

I gave the item in his left hand my attention, as he hums.

"I see." I then saw that he noticed the crack along the side. "So does that mean it is supposed to open??"

I nodded, carefully placing the blanket in my lap, and took the item from his left hand with my own.

Beckoning him to watch, I carefully placed the nails of both my thumbs parallel from each other and tried to pry the crack open with a bit of difficulty.

Having enough, I got curious and added a bit of my life energy as I tried it once more.

*click*

My ears raised and my eyes widened, as I looked at Gus with a wide smile, even more when I noticed his deer ears raised too.

"Look Gus! Claude!! I did–"

I was cut off by a bright light that came from the item, that blinded me to the point that I wasn't aware that Gus and Claude both grabbed me to pull me back.

"Gus, was that??" "I-I think it was."

I was rubbing my eyes as I felt the aura of Wendy, a wolf-hybrid that I resurrected, and two transfigured females quickly approached me to help me clear my eyes.

"Blink, just blink, okay?" 

I nodded my head to miss Rosie, as I felt someone lightly place their hand over my eyes in case there was damage.

Luckily though, after squinting and blinking repeatedly, I was able to see clearly and all four of us sighed in relief.

'What even was that?'

I turned and saw a glowing ball hovering over the item-like necklace, and stood beside the boys.

"What even is this Sweet Tooth?"

"I don't have the slightest clue Big Man, Claude??"

I heard Claude groan in what sounded like disappointment in himself, but I was too engrossed in what I was witnessing and hearing.

"Sorry, I'm afraid not."

I felt tears fall from my eyes.

"A documentary."

All eyes are on me, but mine were on the scene in front of me.

"Frie?"

"Amor meu, what is it?" I felt Claude get behind me, and placed his hands on both my shoulders. "What is it you see??"

"It's the reason why those journals end the way they do–" I heard everyone gasp except Claude. "A beautiful woman with hair of a raven's feathers, and eyes of a ruby gem is holding a baby; a dark violet blanket draped over her frame, right in the corner of this very room."

I heard mister Jepp scoff in amusement.

"So the Omega gave birth in this very room? I guess it would seem rather comfy in a way."

"Two men just entered the room." I couldn't hear any of them, I was focused on this hovering memory. "It's her Alpha and his brother, they came to comfort her and show their welcome......"

I got quiet.

'Something is off.'

"Big sis??"

"Something is wrong."

I heard a series of "huh??" as Claude used his pheromones to calm me and the little one down, before placing his forehead on the top of my head, in between my antlers.

"Frie what–" "She's not sweaty."

I heard all of them give off a sound of confusion, except Claude who tightens his grip on my shoulders, not to hurt me, but enough to tell me he understood.

"There's no mess: Blood, bodily fluids. It's too clean, the baby is extremely clean as well."

"That would mean it has to be rough a week old then, right?"

"You're right Becky, however me having quadruplets it was still difficult for me to even move. I barely had the strength to deliver one, I had to do three different positions and deliver them here. Having your first child, it can still leave a girl out of commission for at least two weeks."

I tilted my head at the fearful expression that the woman had. 

"She's in fear–" Silence, that what was heard around me as I heard bangs on the door. "They're frantically running around, packing all necessary items. She's about to reach for this very pendant, but she immediately looks to the door with wide eyes."

I watched the most horrible part I could ever witness, while both my hands subconsciously found Claude's on my shoulders.

"She's screaming, trying to open something but isn't strong enough. The Alpha pushed his brother to help, and they opened some sort of door." Tears then begin to fall. "She was about to get stabbed.... Her mate took the hit, all seven. Swords, Picks, Knives, Axes, he took them all and still told them to go; she's trying to reach out but the door shuts closed because of him, to keep her from reaching him."

.........

.....

"T- Then what, sister?"

..... "Nothing. It ends with his body falling to the ground, and those people leaving the room. Leaving him here in his own pool of blood."

I felt the temperature in the room change, before seeing it change to something else.

"If you are watching this, then you are a Natural Born Omega or Alpha of either gender." I then noticed that this was before she gave birth, for she had a swollen belly and a neutral look, but I could still sense the joy she held in his expression. "I will not pity, for I myself have to deal with such a problem." She then closed her eyes and gave off an I don't give a damn vibe. "Regardless though, I could care less. After all, our main objective is to survive with our mates." She then made it seem as if our eyes met, even though that was not the case. "However, this must mean you are in dire need. That you are special, and because of that you became a target much like I, perhaps more."

She then gave a narrowed look, with furrowed brows.

"My name is -*=/ >[!&÷×=+, and I am a dimensional witch. An Omega that has probably left this world by the time you witness this."

I don't hear the conversation that goes on behind me, or feel Claude release my shoulders as my attention is still Miss Witch whose name was static.

"If you wish to see me, there is a small area west of here. Along the way you may come across a series of forest-covered paths, each one of the trees is different but certain trees are marked. Those marked trees within the land are the path that will lead you to a sacred tree. That tree was planted by my mate and I in honor of the child within." I watched her then release a small smile of joy. "I do hope your travels are well, as well full of life."

The hovering light then diminished back into the pendant, causing absolute silence around me as I turned to face the others after carefully bending down to pick up the pendant with my right and the blanket with my left.

"Big sis??"

"I know how to get there."

I heard a series of gasps and questionable sounds, before I finally looked up at everyone around me.

"The woman, she's the Witch Gus mentioned." Everyone's eyes widened. "I know where, and how to get there." 

.....

"... but?"

....... "I don't know which direction to even go after heading to the small area west of here."

"Hold up." We all looked towards miser Jepp, who immediately held up his right hand. "Did you just say a small area west of here?"

Blinking, I nodded my head to confirm as I watched him rummage through his travel bag that was over his left shoulder.

"Thought so, cause look." He pulled out a map, and walked to an alchemy table; he then proceeded to carefully clear off the books, scrolls, and journal before placing the map down on it. "Here is where we are."

With his left index, he points to what looks like nothing but trees, which we all now keep in mind that this hut wasn't marked on the map, and that we need to remember that. Before he then gradually moved his finger left, and stopped on a vast area of water.

"West of here is nothing but water. Not to mention that the west might as well be alongside the feral mountain peak."

He then leaned his entire weight on the table.

"Not saying that area doesn't exist, just that there's no way of getting by the feral Hybrids unscathed."

I stayed quiet, until one of Rosie's quadruplets, the only girl, nudged her mother to take some rolled up paper from her.

Unrolling the rolled up parchment, I watched her immediately look up at me with wide eyes and a smile.

"Or maybe there is." We all made a noise of confusion, as I stayed silent with my right hand overtop on my stomach as Rosie stood beside me, and placed the parchment paper overtop of the map. "Look."

We all did, but Jepp scoffed.

"What exactly are we looking at?"

I heard her chuckle, before she spun that parchment around and picked up both it and the map.

"Bring me one of those black candles and crystal balls."

Wendy did as told and I helped her set up the black candle, before she gently placed the crystal ball overtop, making the candle light wider, as well brighter.

I then immediately realized what Rosie was doing, and spun around to grab a see-through cutting board.

Placing the legs off the board down, I carefully placed it over the light, as she caught on and smirked at me before lightly placing both the parchment with the map on the board.

"This isn't just parchment paper." The light helps the map bleed through the parchment, as the parchment itself reveals something due to the illuminated black light. "It has the answer we all need, the solution."

We all simultaneously looked at the map, and saw the area around, that was on the map, was now surrounded by a red circle thanks to parchment.

"This right here." She points to the same area that Jepp did, but now thanks to the parchment we have a path, with labels that give us special directions. "This is our ticket to getting Frie and kids to safety, and hopefully with that witch... if she's alive."

I felt mister Jepp's antelope antlers brush up against my deer one, as he leaned over like the rest of us to see the path marked red better.

"So our ticket for safe travel—"

"Yes, sir." I watched her wolf tail wag slightly, and one of her ears twitch, as she gave a serious smirk. "The underground, that's our ticket to safe travel."

All of us then met eyes with each other, before looking at Jepp, who saw he was outnumbered and sighed in defeat, raising his arms in a mock surrender.

"Alright." He then grabs his bag, pulls out a roll of clear tape, and carefully tapes all the edges of the parchment to the map. "If we're doing this–" He then puts the roll back in the bag, zips it up and walks to the front entrance. "Then let's do this right."

We all nodded to each other before following close behind mister Jepp.

Once out, we noticed that the sky was now a dark orange, indicating that we've been inside the hut investigating for a while.

"Pile in everyone we have a long ride ahead of us." I didn't notice the looks Rosie gave me cause Claude was helping me place the beautifully black silken blanket over my shoulders. I gave him a smile as he instantly returned it, eyes filled with love. "Hey Frie!!" Both Claude and I turned our attention to Rosie, who tossed something for me to catch, but Claude intercepted due to me not being able to bend down to catch it low. "It's one of the lockets you made back before Gus destroyed the original tree right??" 

My eyes widened when Claude showed me the item he had caught for me was indeed one of the wooden lockets I made.

"It- it is." I then turned to Rosie, baffled. "H-How'd you—"

"Bruno dug it up when we were chasing you guys back then." She then gestured to the inside pocket within my left kimono sleeve, with her head. "You can place the gem containing your triplets on it. It seems to be the right size."

Gasping softly, I immediately placed the locket from the hut inside my sleeve, and pulled out the gem that contained my beautiful butterfly-Elven fawns.

I placed it over the wooden, cedar scented locket, and gasped once more for she was right.... It was the perfect fit.

"Well~, would you look at that." I immediately looked at Claude with a stunned look still, only to start smiling softly at the soft look he was giving me, as he carefully took the locket from my hand and fed a chain through it. "If amor meu would allow me~?"

I chuckled at him and carefully lifted my hair up to reveal my neck, but was also careful not to nick the translucent ban that helped hide the rest of my hair, as I felt him gently place the locket with his pure silver chain around my neck.

.... But I was wondering why the chain had hints of foreign magic within.

"Claude?"

I felt his fingers gently rest along the nape of my neck as I carefully grasped the silver chain around me with gentle care.

"You're wondering about the chain, aren't you?"

I nodded with soft eyes.

"I am, it feels familiar. Not like Qi, but foreign, and yet–" "So familiar, both to you and me?"

I nodded, as I felt him walk around me, and now that I see his face I come to witness the solemn look adorn his complexion.

"I may have forced someone we met long ago into a promise."

I tilted my head left slightly, and hummed in confusion.

"How long ago, exactly??"

I saw his antennae raise up instantly, in which told me he was either shock or surprised that I asked, as he then placed his left thumb on his chin with his right arm wrapped around his waist.

"Let me see~." I sighed with closed eyes, held tilted down a bit and right, cause no matter how many times this happens, Claude's spontaneous mood changes take more energy from me than the child I'm carrying..... though.... It's still entertaining when it turns into self frustration on his part. "Aha!!"

I jumped in my skin at the sudden snapping of his fingers as he immediately turned into a sassy she-devil for some reason, which made me chuckle and him to give a scoff, the one that showed victory on his part.

"You remember that traveler, right~?"

I felt my ears lift from that with wide eyes, because I do remember a foreigner, human at the most, entering the forest that we resided in temporarily. It was also before–

'Hold on.'

"Wasn't this before you took the serum? Before we had created the triplets??"

I suddenly watched him freeze, as I turned my head slightly right, closed my eyes and thought back to why the traveler left so quickly.

"Now that I think about it." I immediately turned to see Gus standing behind Claude, who got scared which made me chuckle, along with the other girls in this group. "Did you and that guy have a fight or something? He seemed like he knew you'd meet him again, but held a rather serious look."

I watched Claude's face turn serious, as we followed Gus to the truck and piled in.

"Not quite." Rosie drove down the road and to our next location, as we all looked Claude's way. "I found out that he.... Wasn't from this world, a Sorcerer as well as...something else."

I just blinked repeatedly.

'I gathered that first part, for his clothes were.... Odd. As well, I felt his magic.. he was quite powerful.' 

"While I already knew about the first two." He froze up, and looked my way with a face of disbelief. "I would like to know what the third find was."

He immediately placed on his child-rebel face and looked the opposite way of me.

"Nope."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Really, Claude?"

"Yep! Sorry, amor meu~!"

I sighed, too tired to play this game right now.

"Fine." He sighed in relief. "Can I at least know what the promise you made the traveler agreed too was?"

I watched Claude stop acting playful, and felt his aura grow solemn, his shoulders sagged down in the process.

"I can't." I groaned, and was to retort when I heard him release a nervous, almost sad chuckle. "Mostly, because I fear what you may do if I did."

I was confused, and I could feel the others confused by his words as well, before Claude carefully made his way to me; he grabbed the two front ends of the silken blanket, beckoning me to grab onto it as he gently picked me up, only to place me on his lap sideways.

"We still have a long way to go." I looked at him with concern, as he just smiled. "Don't worry, I will always make sure you survive. In any situation."

He placed my right ear over his heart; my soothing lullaby, for it places me to sleep quickly as it does the triplets.....

..... as it had for me..

I wish he hadn't made me sleep, I'd still had time.....

....... I'd have dreams not nightmares.

.....I always have nightmares.

While I slept with these occurring nightmares, ones that always show my life, my world ending, I felt someone shaking me, hear someone yelling.....

Most of all, I felt oddly warm.

Suddenly now interested, I cracked my blurry eyes open to see everyone running around frantically, before seeing Gus' complexion immediately enter my view.

What made me worry was the look of fear etched among said expressions; I watched as he seemed to have gasped, but couldn't hear what he was saying.

However the scent of metallic was hitting my nose, it caused my eyes to fully widen, and abruptly sit up just to have a set of hands grab my shoulders, shaking me.

"Ther!!! Pu– —rself to–ther!!!"

I was looking around frantically, trying to find something to ground my thoughts in one place, to save me from my nightmares being triggered into reality, before feeling a strong sting over my right cheek.

"Frieren!!! Please! Pull yourself together!!!"

My pupils dilate as I slowly turn my head to face Gus, who had tears running down his face.

"G-Gus?"

I watched his deer ears raise up instantly, as he sighed in relief, before immediately throwing himself on me, engulfing me in an embrace.

"Oh thank goodness!!" I felt him start to shake. "I was worried about you. Ever since that weird little rabbit appeared after the wreck, and immediately went to you—"

'W-wait, what?'

"G-Gus." I felt him stiffen, as I was now the one shaking. "W-What wreck? W-where's Claude?!"

I wanted nothing more than to get and find Claude, but Gus was trying his best to keep me down.

"Let me up, Gus!! I- I have to find Claude!!"

I heard him take in a breath, before hearing an odd high-pitched whimper.

"Mokona feels you're hurting~." My eyes widened, and I felt my Elven ears raise a bit. "Mokona knows what would make the pretty deer-lady better~!!"

I slowly turned my head, just for the mother in me to kick in and caught a little ball of white fur....... With big ears??

"A- a rabbit??"

I watched its ears raise straight up, and saw a little earring on the little guy's right ear as he raised his left paw??

"Aye~!! I'm what you would call, Soel Mokona Modoki~!!"

My eyes widened in disbelief.

'An adorable little rabbit, that talks?! Hold on, doesn't Soel mean white in several different languages as well as different spellings??'

I just blinked.

"Assuming your name means white–" I immediately caught both their attention. "Does....that mean you have a twin?"

I heard Gus give a confused sound, as I watched this little rabbit jumping up and down in my hands, happily.

"Yep! Yep! Pretty deer-lady is right~! Right~! Right~!"

He then giggled, before I watched him get quiet, leaned towards my stomach and heard him hum curiously, poking my protruded tummy lightly with his left paw.

I giggled lightly, feeling myself become lighter slightly from the little guy's presence, as I then heard Gus growl a little.

"Be careful little Soel–" His ears, along with Gus' perked up at my sudden words. "A very tiny life is growing, it's very fragile so it has to stay right in the area you're poking."

I then saw his ears flattened, as well as frowned.

"Mokona didn't hurt the tiny life??"

I giggled, as I heard Gus chuckle before I gently picked the little guy up and placed his forehead right up against mine, as I gave him some eyes as his ears fell back.

"I'm the one thing that stands in the way of this little one getting hurt." I watched his ears raise slightly. "It takes a heavy injury to harm both of us." 

Little Soel then giggles again, as I then remembered how this entire conversation started, and turned to Gus.

"Feeling a bit more grounded–" Both he and little Soel look my way. "Where is Claude and everyone???"

I watched Gus' ears tilt down, as I heard the precious rabbit make a sound of confusion.

"About that."

I felt a chill.

"Gus."

I saw him gulp, shivering slightly.

"After you fell asleep, the moon suddenly turned red. The bitten hybrids for some reason– no somehow knew where we were." I started to shake as I felt the little guy crawl into my lap. "Claude and two of Rosie's kids made sure you stayed as safe as possible; Rosie even went as far as gave them the command to protect you at cost."

I was about to ask about the wreck, when I saw a little hand raise up.

"How'd you wreck~?"

I carefully brought the little guy into my arms and hugged him lightly, causing a giggle to be released.

"The bitten Hybrids that came after us." Gus then met my eyes with his narrowed serious ones. "They were all humans and natural born Hybrids, they were all screaming, "Get the Omega!" or "Pure Blood!!!"."

I gulped, as he continued.

"They tipped— wait no, flipped the truck over like it was nothing!! They nearly got a hold of you if Claude hadn't got in-between—"

He then stopped and gulped as my eyes widened.

"G-Gus–" I watched him look to the ground before meeting my eyes. "W-where's Claude, Gus?"

He was quiet for a bit, before sighing.

"Tied up at the moment, he wasn't bitten..... but he was severely scratched in several places."

My eyes widen in fear, not for me but Claude.

'T-that's worse than getting bit!!!'

"W-where—-" "Near the tree."

I stared at him with wide eyes.

"H-huh?"

Gus met eyes with me, however his eyes held a solemn look.

'W-we're near the tree? How long was I out?!'

"We're near the tree, you've been out for a day and a half." I watched him then stand up, as I was still trying to grasp and decipher all the information he gave me, before witnessing him holding his hand out to me. "Here. I can take you and the little rabbit to see Claude, but....please be careful when you do."

Swallowing, I carefully placed my left hand in his right, as Gus gently helped me up and guided me out of the small, man-made tent.

Following him with little Soel in my arms, I smiled as he started to sing a rather interesting song, but the smile was washed away as if it was sand being dragged by the sea at the sight before me.

My beloved mate, my precious Ceylon Rose was tied, in ropes and chains; blood adorned his wounds that were now treated, albeit half-assed due to lack of resources.

I saw that Claude had his head tilted down, his chin practically touching his neck as I noticed that he was sweating horribly.

'He's in so much pain.' I didn't notice that my grasp on Soel tightened, nor did I realize I was crying. 'He's fighting the virus at his hardest.'

I didn't hear the confused sound that the small rabbit made, for I was walking towards Claude, ignoring everyone that was now aware that Gus and I were here.

"Hey deer-lady~!" I paused, ending up right in front of Claude. "Why're you crying~?"

My eyes widened, as I raised my right hand to touch my face. 

'I'm crying.' I couldn't take my gaze off Claude, who I now was aware was losing his fight. 'It's not just my heart breaking, is it?'

"These tears, little Soel, aren't just mine." I carefully fell to my knees, not knowing that it caused everyone to jump, for my only focus was on Claude, who I did see jump. "The heart of the man you see in front, is crying."

I heard him hum, before I saw his right ear move and saw the back of it touch Claude's left cheek, causing him to twitch.

I gasped when I saw Claude raise his head, eyes slowly open to the point where I only was able to see a sliver of purple.

"Oh Claude."

I heard him swallow, before he coughed out a relieved sigh.

"You're alive, thank whatever Deities are alive."

I heard the others gasp behind me, but I didn't care as I used my left hand, and placed it under the right side of his chin to slowly raise his head; only to see a series of black veins on his forehead, cheek, chin, even his neck.

I wanted to cry for the pain that the key to my heart is suffering from.

"You're going to be fine, okay." I heard him groan, as well as scoff. "I-I mean Claude. You're gonna beat this virus, and in a little under six months from now, you'll be able–" "--To hold our new addition. Our new miracle creation."

I smiled at him with a nod.

"T-that right, our miracle creation. You'll even be able to hand the girl's off to their mate when they're older, and help little Lyserg with his first Ruts." I felt several tears fall from my eyes, as my fingers moved from his chin to the hair-line of Claude's neck before placing my forehead against his. "Bloody hell, amor. They need you here, the group needs you."

"Frieren." I then heard him try to stop himself from coughing, but turned his head away from me, due to starting to cough and puke up blood with grime-like tar. "D-damn." He then turns back to me with a soft, sad smile. "Forgive that, estimat."

Claude then gave me a closed eyed smile, with his eyebrows furrowed being the only sign that he's in pain.

"I didn't want any of that getting on you." Opening his eyes half-way, he used his left antenna to wipe the tears from my right cheek. "Can't have you or the baby getting this."

"You're scared~."

My eyes widened, as I looked down to the little Soel in my right arm, so I didn't see Claude's expression change.

"Oh?" I heard the little Soel hum in response. "Well, you wouldn't mind telling me who you are, adorable ball of fluff~?"

He didn't giggle, his face held the same frown, think about it he hasn't once smiled since we got to Claude.

"Mokona, is Mokona Modoki~."

I heard Claude chuckle, along with a few others behind me.

"Well, that's quite a name you have there, unique indeed."

"Neh~, mister~?" I heard Claude hum in response, telling the little one that he's listening. "You're trying not to die, aren't you~?"

My eyes widened, as the others gasped and surrounded us.

"I am." He then gives a small smile. "It's proving to be rather difficult though, I'm afraid I have lost too much blood."

I look at him feeling the urge to cry, to release the sobs that constricted within my throat.

"Mokona hopes that the butterfly man lives~!" We all looked to the little one, as I now see a smile on his face, as he raised his little left paw and raised his right rabbit ear. "Mokona promised Yūko to bring all remaining inhabitants to her~!" He then points his raised paw to Claude. "That includes you too~!"

Tears, all that falls from Claude's tired, pained eyes are tears as I watched him bite his lower lip to suppress his sobs from leaving his throat.

We were all crying, even Rosie's children were whimpering, as the men were all trying to preserve their pride.

I saw Claude about to respond when howls and screams made everything go quiet.

I could hear my heart beating into my ears, as I felt the vibrations of several running figures, as I saw Rosie and her only daughter out of the four, that she renamed Scarlet, appeared beside me, the little one and Claude.

"You heard the rabbit." We all looked at her, as Soel was still looking in the direction where the screams and howls came from. "Ginger called not too long ago, through the walkie talkie."

She then gives up trying to untie the ropes, grabs her knife and cuts them instead, officially setting Claude free.

Rosie then places her left hand on Claude's right shoulder.

"We need you, so if you can actually fight this off." She then took a deep breath. "Then maybe with this, we may actually have a chance of a peaceful end."

I watched Claude close his eyes and take a deep breath, as Rosie helped him up.

I watched him stumble, but only for me to carefully stand up to support him with my body and left arm, as well as the help from Rosie.

Rosie then looked at both me and Soel with a determined look.

"Ginger is already in the area with her son, they found the tree. All we need is you and...." She then looks at the little one. "Mokona, was it?"

The small rabbit then giggled, raising his left arm once again.

"Yep~! Yep~, Mokona Modoki, is the name~!"

I smiled at him, not knowing of Claude and Rosie smiling at me.

The howls and screams were louder, closer, so much that my grip on Soel to tightened; my fear of death of my love one's heightened.

The feeling of rough, tattered hands landing on my shoulders brought me back to reality, and caused me to turn my head right only to have my forehead meet Claude's.

"We need to hurry, amor."

I nodded, as we all started running to.....

'Wait.'

"Hold on, which way do we go??"

They all realized I'm right, stopped and Rosie quickly pulled a compass.

"This way." She walks left but stops abruptly, and turns forward. "Hold on, shit!!" She then threw the compass on the ground. "The compass is a bust!!"

"It must've been because of the moon."

"Now what—" Claude suddenly throws up blood, with me being right by him as I placed the little one on my head and caught him but my kimono ended up covered in grime. "D-damn."

"C-Claude!! Breathe, please!!"

I heard Soel let out a whimper, before hearing him gasp.

"Mokona can help~!"

We all look, minus me and Claude, looked to the rabbit upon my head.

"How can this little guy help?"

"Jepp–" "No Becky, we're nearly at Death's door, one of us is turning slowly, the other is—

He stopped himself, causing me to bite back a whimper, knowing immediately who he was talking about.

"D-don't—" I felt Claude move. "D-don't ever c-call her a l-liability." Claude tried and barely succeeded in weakly standing up just to cover me and the creature between my antlers. "S-She isn't–"

"I know. I know man." I felt Claude stiffened slightly. "I just want to finally find peace. For all of us."

"Mokona can feel the tree~." I looked up at the little one as the others, well looked at the top of my head. "The tree is how Mokona got here, yep~! Yep~!"

Eyes widened from all of us, as Claude, shakily turned to face the two of us.

"Y-you're from t-the tree?" I heard Soel sing that endearing song of his, as Claude turned his body left, showing me that he was using his right arm to hold his left. "S-So you c-can feel the t-tree then?"

"I can~!" 

Claude then looks to the others.

"Do w-we have any other c-choice here?"

The others look at each other before looking at Jepp, who sighs in defeat.

"No we don't." He then walks up behind me and Claude, places his hands on both my right shoulder with his right hand on Claude's left shoulder. "So lead the way, you three."

Claude and I made eye contact, both looking at Soel.

"Ready to take the lead, Soel?"

I felt him jump in my hair.

"Mokona's ready~! Go that way~!!"

He points straight, so that's where we start running, after about 45 minutes he gives us a different direction and believe or not it leads us to Ginger with her husband beside her, both also transfigured to walrus' Alphas well Omega.

After Rosie filled in, as well as convinced her in-law not to kill Claude, they joined with no questions and we continued following Soel's directions, until finally......

....the tree.

It's right in front of us.

Freedom and peace is right there, as we all made it the rest of the way. I used my powers, every spell, incantation, sigil, talismans, everything in my arsenal, until finally, with one final push and assistance from Soel..... I did it.

It's— it opened. I opened the door with Soel's help and I'm exhausted.... However I couldn't rest, not yet.

Not until we're free.

I turned to the others, who're crying silently and gestured for them to go through.

They did with no questions asked, first it was Ginger with her family, then Rosie and her quadruplets..

Last was Becky and Wendy.

Leaving Gus, Jepp, Claude and I.

"I- I can't believe it." We all looked to Jepp, who ran a hand over his hairless head and his antelope antlers, before looking at us then back at the entrance with a large smile. "We're free." He took several steps forward. "We're finally f**king free!!!"

He then turns to us three, smile still placed firmly.

"The hell are we waiting for! You–" Jepp points to me. "Got triplets you need to release. You–" Points to Claude who stiffens. "We're going to fix your ass up, and you're holding that baby in your arms in six months!"

I heard Claude chuckle along with Gus, and a giggling Soel.

"And you little man." That caused the little one to jump up at attention, as Jepp spread his arms widely. "It's thanks to you that we're here, so let's go and celebrate!!"

Both Jepp and Gus booked it to the door, as Claude, the little one and I laughed, as I felt my hand get lifted up.

Turning I saw Claude, with a happy smile. One so pure, it was as if my Ceylon Rose was reborn.

"Shall we, amor?"

I felt tears fall from my eyes, as I nod and we head to the door, the best thing was that the closer we got the more we could see the others as I tried to help push Claude through since he needed more help.

However, quickly seeing Jepp, Gus and Rosie mouthing the words "Turn around!!" I did so, but I was a second too late...

The claws of a bitten, virus-infested bear were raised, and the moment they swung down I immediately grabbed Soel to protect as I waited for my end.

...... I heard the sound of screams, the scent of both blood and the virus..

But those screams.. I knew them too well.

My world felt as if some higher place had placed everything in slow-motion, for I felt my entire frame turn left, and once I was faced with the back of what should be my hero....

.... Was that of my dying heart, for it was my beloved Claude whose back was in front of me, standing between me and death....

.... That stood there bearing the infection that was being injected into his system from the right nape of his neck....

.... All I could do was cry. My world, my anchor; was screaming in pain....

I watched with hollowed vision as he grabbed his gun with both his antennas, and shot the infected bear hybrid, causing it to fall sideways, with him falling backwards....

.... Falling towards me.

I immediately came back to reality, my hollow vision becoming clear.

I subconsciously made sure the little rabbit was secured within my tail, and with the speed of the demon I possessed, I quickly caught him.

All I could do was cuddle the left nape of his neck, the side where my mark rested, and whimper feeling his warmth fleeting from form.

"Please...." Nothing. "Please, don't leave me."

I didn't hear the little one gasp, until I released one myself from the feeling of the pads of fingers running against my scalp...

The only problem, the one problem that made me sorrowful, were the sharp knife-like nails...

"Claude...."

"Shhh~." I immediately turned my head right, and would normally be scared of the red whites, black irises; the series of sharp fangs, with eroded, missing patches of skin and flesh... but I just wanted to cry, because my Claude, he was still here.. barely. "I.. need you to... listen."

"No, no. You are going to be alright, we're going to find a way—" "There is no way."

I immediately froze at his words, as I felt his now virus- infected left hand bring my eyes back to meet his gaze and my eyes widened when I saw he was smiling.

"I'm not going to be... able to hold.. on for much longer." I gulped down my nerves, and shakily nodded my head. "You remember when I said, I wouldn't.... Tell you about the promise."

"I- I do, Claude."

He then starts to cough, which makes me wince, before I heard him groan and saw him start shaking.

"T-then listen... I didn't t-tell you ... .because I d-didn't want this to happen...." My eyes widened a bit. "I-I wanted... to l-live a beautiful fairytale... with m-my beautiful p-princess."

I whimpered.

"C-Claude."

I saw one of Soel's ears lay on Claude's left cheek.

".... b-but my fear of this... is why I-I forced that p-promise..."

He then started to slightly seize, and it scared me, cause it just showed me this wasn't a nightmare....

... I realized this was real when he calmed down and spit up blood with tar.

"F-F**k. The p-promise—" "I'm not leaving you alone."

I saw his eyes widened, before he gave a closed eyed smile.

"I figured... you would say that."

I blinked, when he said that, before he whispered under his breath, started glowing before it transferred to me, the little one and the tree.

"C-Claude?!"

I watched him carefully stand up, as me and Soel floated to the tree.

"I'm a goner, amor. You carried and are carrying my legacies." We ended up pressed up against the tree, making all three of us glow more, as I bashed against the barrier.. I wasn't going to leave him behind to die. "I leave Mokona.... My– my final words, I will destroy this tree from this world ...."

He then unsteadily held out both his hands, started to glow as more howls and screams appeared.

"I'm s-so sorry, I will always be your Shield." I started to cry out to him, but they were silenced by warping both the tree and me with the little one in my arms. "I p-pray, t-that F-Fai keeps his f-f**king word."

Before Soel and I were engulfed in nothingness with the tree, I watched Claude's body fall to the ground and become Orb fragments, as I watched in horror and reached out, wishing I could hold just one fragment.

"CLAUDE!!!!!!!"

"Farwell, amor meu. Us estimo a tots~!"

I wasn't sure what face I was making, but I couldn't feel any changes to my body as I released the most horrific, sorrowful scream that I could have made.....

...I didn't even realize that Soel was buried into my collarbone until I felt both his ears catch my tears, which resulted in me looking at him and him to me, before a bright light caught our attention.

.... The tree, it's roots were coming towards us, so I curled myself around little Soel and felt all of the roots cover every part of my body, causing me to wince at every injury they dig into, as I felt Soel bury his little paws and head further into my neck, as I continued to scream in agony.

'Why?' I felt tears fall from my eyes, as I felt the whites burn. 'What more does life... want from me?'

My head was now nearly covered, as my grip on Soel never faltered, as I watched with my single, left eye as the roots then suddenly disappeared, and formed a white feather, with a rose colored design, there was even a beautiful butterfly that fluttered around it, before it landed on it.

I felt Soel move his body to look at where I was, made a sudden strange noise, as I watched the butterfly that reminded me of Claude carrying the odd feather into the right sleeve of my kimono, and I smiled sadly.

'So that is what you meant, Claude.' Tears then fell free, these however were of sorrow-filled bliss, but it was short lived, when I felt my body being dragged through what feels like a wall; a wall that for some reason wasn't tearing but was enclosing me and Soel.... 'Claude, please guide us to the Witch, please let them all be safe.'

I curled myself around Soel once more, and let what happens be....

.....but I wasn't expecting to softly land in the hands of my crying, smiling family, which made me smile seeing them alright, bloody, beaten, and wet from the rain currently pouring, but here.

'Thank you, amor.' 

"You've arrived." I immediately turned my form to see a beautiful woman, hair as dark as night, eyes so red it triumphs an apple, and skin as pale as snow.. "You're a bit late, it was unexpected."

I blinked at that, despite my entire essence being exhausted in all four categories.

"Y-yes, f-forgive my tardiness." I then closed my eyes due to the pain the heavy downpour was causing, so I didn't see her raise a brow, or the curious expressions along with the others. "A-a lot has happened."

"Child." I flinched and tightened my grip on Soel, which caused the others to growl in my defense. "Young one, can you stand so I may see you as a whole?"

I was about to do as asked, but then heard a growl, causing me to flinch.

"Why the hell did we have to wait for this b*itch!!" I felt Soel's ears raise instantly, as the male then points at the others around me. "And what the hell is up with all of–"

Soel immediately leaps out of my arms, and judo kicks the man from under his chin, before landing in the beautiful woman's arms.

"Mokona??" "YOU'RE MEAN~!! MEAN~!! MEAN~!!"

All eyes widened at that, as I watched the woman's face grow intrigued before I watched Soel's expression fall solemnly, as he turned to face the woman.

"Yūko~." The woman, Yūko, hums. "Mokona failed to get everyone~."

I looked down, as everyone around, except the four I didn't know, gasps as I hear Rosie growl.

"Then that means–"

I heard Gus whimper slightly.

"That Claude didn't make it."

I heard someone take in a sharp breath, but couldn't decipher who, as I myself am still grieving so I didn't hear any footsteps until I felt the right side of my chin get raised gently, to the point where my eyes met red ones..... very familiar red one..

'Hold up.'

I gasped, with wide eyes.

"Y-you're the Witch that lived in that man-made den." I reached inside my left kimono sleeve, and retrieved the locket that was found from the hut-like den, so I didn't see her wide eyes, or the curious expression of someone who walked closer. "Amor meu, and I found this locket-like pendant within the den."

I carefully hand her the pendant, as she opens it easily and quietly gasps, but only I and the male I didn't know heard along with my family, but that's also when I recalled the blanket.

"Oh!" That caught their attention as well, as I gracefully removed the beautiful blanket from my shoulders. "The locket was also wrapped with this beautiful blanket." I hold it out to her, as she slowly takes it. "I'm sorry for any residue that may be on it–" I then looked to the side ashamed. "I tried my very best to keep it clean..... despite the circumstances."

I didn't hear anything, until I felt someone pat my head and looked up to see Miss Yūko smiling at me.

"May I know your name, young one?"

I tilted my head left a bit, confused, as I then heard someone lightly giggle beside me, causing me to face him, but due to the heaviness of the rain, as well my bangs being over my eyes, I couldn't see him very well since I was squinting, so I was only able to see his kneeling silhouette.

"See, we arrived not too long ago ourselves, and apparently your friends here already introduced themselves, in a quite interesting way, if I do say~!"

I blinked, and nodded.

"I see."

I went to get up, but Rosie and Gus helped to get me on my feet due to my injuries from the tree disappearing the way it did.

After gaining my balance, I gestured to the two that I was fine, and turned to face everyone else, despite having trouble opening my eyes, I carefully revealed my right eye from behind my bangs, placing them behind my ear, revealing it as well, resulting in gasps, accompanied with a giggle from the little one.

I opened my tired eyes, perhaps reddened I'm sure, and looked to the slightly widened ones of Miss Yūko, and smiled tirelessly.

"My name is Frieren, it's a pleasure to meet you."