They attack the Archway with a full druid company of hunters and spell casters as well as the aid of twenty armed soldiers from the town; the undead are fiercely overwhelmed and being taken by surprise show almost no resistance to the attack. The group fights their way down the corridors freeing the children when they come to the door and Lilly runs to her father, he holds her tight thanking the woodland spirits for keeping her alive and getting a hunter to take her back to the mere continues with the group to take down Malice. They blast open the door to his private room and witness the sight of a swirling portal that has just been created,

“HAH; your too late you bunch of tree huggers!” Malice barks turning to see the group

“Teremicus is dead it’s over Malice”

“Not by a long shot Stark, there’s more than one way to skin a cat”

“Take him down!” Stark commands and firing arrows, spears and blades toward him they stop, pummeling into an invisible barrier stopping short of his face and body.

“Oh my god” Malice laughs to them, “You really believe that I wouldn’t be prepared for this attack, you’re more pathetic than I first thought” and hearing the silent sound of a rouge who snuck behind Malice’s force wall defense lunged to backstab him. Malice takes the impacted shot to the head from the blade of the rouge and turning around quickly he backhands the druid into the force wall dropping him to the ground, looking upon him in stupidity Malice shakes his head which pulling the blade from his skull. “But none of them are more idiotic then you my friend” says Malice picking him up and raising the failed assassin into the air effortlessly. Malice’s eyes begin to glow a royal amber color and screaming for his life the rogue feels an implosive cold going on in his body, a blue mist escapes from his mouth and into Malice’s free hand leaving the body lifeless in his firm grasp, “Now to put you worthless life to good use” says Malice tossing the body to the side and with a baseball toss throws the blue ball through the force barrier and into the crowd of gathered druids,

“LOOK OUT!” cries Stark diving out of the way, and incinerating two druids when the ball erupts into an explosion, the rest are blasted various directions into the air of the chamber, impacting the force wall itself druids wall paper the stone bricks and ceiling, some lose their lives from the blast,

“The power of life is a beautiful thing” Malice laughs and waving so long he steps through the portal and it closes behind him. Elanee moves Stark’s blanketed arm that wrapped over her when he dove to protect her from the blast,

“Malice He’s escaping, can we pursue him”

“Not a chance there is no one powerful enough to reopen that portal, I’m sorry” said Stark getting slowly to his feet and pick some rocks off his back

“Not here” Elanee said, than a thought ran through her mind “ARTANIS!” she barked out and runs out of the rubble room with Stark behind her.

Searching the woods from her mind and with Starks woodland knowledge they locate Artanis still hanging in the tree foliage,

“Artanis can you hear us” Elanee shouts to him and seeing his eyes open, she closes hers with relief “Stark he’s alive” she calls to him and changing into a jungle cougar Stark leaps against the bark of the tree and begins to climb to his location. Getting level to his position Stark goes out on the limb and looks to Artanis who has a very sleepy look to his face,

“Stay with me Artanis, when I cut your rope I want you to swing your arms to your front and around my neck, I’ll take you down myself…blink once if you understand” and seeing the agreeing blink from his eyes Stark proceeds, using his claws he cuts Artanis free and swinging as he was told Artanis wraps his banded hands around Stark’s think cat neck; taking him down slowly he is laid down and untied and ungagged. Looking at his arms Stark notices that both shoulders were bent back a bit if not treated now could be wrecked his whole life,

“What’s wrong” asked Elanee getting some water for him

“Wait on the water his arms are dislocated and need to be realigned” Said Stark and holding down Artanis’s chest with Starks massive foot he holds Artanis’s arms tight and pulls fiercely till he hears a crack from them, and a cry from Artanis.

Elanee gives him a drink from a water skin to replenish his thirst and strength,

“Thank you” Artanis whispers to her

“Not that I’m not grateful to see you alive but you were missing for over a day, how did you live through this” she asks looking at his dried up bloody face and purple tanned arms and legs from the deep bruises setting on his skin.

“I know of a technique shown from my mother, to slow my heart rate to almost nothing to foil the quickness of death, proved to be very useful in such a case” and smiling to his light faced humored self she hugs him lightly, a sound is heard from the bushes and outcomes two druid hunters carrying the body of Anubis limp and lifeless. A gasp comes from Elanee’s mouth and turning her head Stark motions for the body to be taken away,

“We will bury him Elanee; he died for a noble cause”

“Hopefully his master thinks so” says Elanee “He belonged to Tristan” and thinking for a second he calls back the men to change his mind and recommends them to take it to his camp quarters for now, mentioning that he himself will do the preparation on Anubis for the afterlife journey. The children were also taken to the Druid homeland for safekeeping for the moment; as soon as Artanis gained his movement to his legs they started to the enclave taking tree portals when they could to hasten the journey, for Malice had the head start and upper hand on them. On their way to embark to the enclave some hunters stop them to report a misjudgment, they say that one child is still unaccounted for and were not with the others, going back through her mind Elanee located from the knowledge gained by Teremicus of the last spot he was with a child and Stark takes her there leaving Artanis in the guarding hands of his hunters until they return. She finds the baby in an old waterwheel house outside the town that was abandoned for some time. Elanee finds her inside the wheel center nestled tight and secure in amongst her blankets and unharmed, going to pick her up and carry her out Elanee is blasted with a mind thought from the child of its mother, Elanee shakes her head and looks again at the image and realizes that the child’s mother is Eve!

“Everything ok Elanee, you look pale” replied Stark waiting for her at the river side bend,

“Yeah I’m fine” Elanee said not giving away her findings just yet but messing in her mind that the baby couldn’t be Rain’s doing for she wasn’t even pregnant, but looking at the markings on the little girl her mind fills with wonder and worry for what will happen to the child since the mother is gone.

Shimmering to a jungle setting Colossus gives off a stunned look to his face,

“What the hell? Where am I? This isn’t her lair”

“No it isn’t, very observant of you” said the voice of Sephinroth as she appeared out of flame,

“How was this possible, I aimed for your lair and I never have missed my target before” he said curious

“Well that’s a dreadful shame to put a black mark on your perfect score, but I did feel that too many people realized where I live so I decided to revamp my defenses” she said “Sorry that you didn’t get the memo, I thought your seer would have told you that” and snapping her fingers she looks up “Oh right, your seer is dead isn’t she” and shrugging off the insult he carries on with his business

“The Matriarch and I are going to march on the enclave in one day, we’ll be there in four days, so be ready by then to meet us at the west side plains then” he commanded

“Why can’t you just teleport there and take them out before their ready?” she asks

“There is no mage on the record of time that can hold enough power including me to accomplish such a task, it’s not possible” Colossus explained

“And here I always thought you were above the average, what a pity” she smiled

“Don’t push me Sephinroth” Colossus scolds getting irritated

“Oh learn to lighten up you big stiff, you’re starting to go grey in the hair from all the stress” she replied

“If there was any stress on me it was all from you” he snarled

“I’ll take that as a compliment” she smiled “But very well I’ll be there in four days, oh this isn’t a black and white event is it because I love to wear red” she added and growing heated to the point of losing it Colossus shimmered away, “Well that was rude!” she said and giving herself a little smirk she flames out of sight.

Getting back to the enclave, Stark walks with Artanis for during the trip home he had to rest and needed support, Elanee carried the child for giving it to a hunter for safe keeping caused her to cry and fuss until she was back in the arms of Elanee. Coming over the last hill the traveling group bared witness to a massive fleet of ships landing and clustering off the shore line and barring the flags of Strom guard Elanee knew that Tristan had returned. They saw thousands of troop pouring off like liquid from the ships and dressed in the colors and banners of the Stormguard name spilled into formal groups.

“Tristan’s here” said Elanee swallowing and hard swallow for the news she will bare to him is far from good, they approach the borders of the enclave and are greeted by a guard’s patrol welcoming them back, quickly they were lead to the captains tent were Tristan, Cloud, Straud and Cynn were convened and organizing the men as well as discussing battle plans. Seeing the group enter through the heavy cloth Cloud stopping to get Elanee and greeting hug, she smiles from the warm welcome and a guard outside is told to bring his siblings to the tent. Artanis and Stark enter second and hugging Artanis lightly he is asked what happened, Elanee moves around the barrage of close company to see Tristan and about to give her condolences for his loss he didn’t know yet and she is astonished at the living site of his cat by his side.

“Anubis!” she said shocked and hearing the call the cat came to her side planting his paws to her thighs and gave her a wet loving lick, “Your alive!” she said again

“Alive?” replied Tristan with a look of wonder

“Yes, Tristan I don’t or didn’t know how to break it any lighter but Anubis lost his life at the hands of the foe we just faced…how is this possible” and thinking for a second she turned to Stark who held a small smirk to his lips,

“They worked faster than I thought they would” Stark replied “For when I found out that this massive beauty was the nature companion to Tristan, I told out a special request to have him brought to life again, for being a druid elder; it is in our power. And because of the sheer fact that he saved my life this was my chance to repay him”

The warm look of gratitude from Tristan to Stark was abruptly interrupted as Rain and Dawn entered swiftly to the tent, Elanee handed the child to Stark and running to Rain she griped him tight and buried her face to his shoulder,

“Elanee” Rain said happily “I thought I might never see you again” he said with almost tears in his eyes, and looking at him wanting so badly to kiss his lips she fought the erg and said back

“There was a moment that I felt the same, I love you so much” she added hugging him again

“I love you too” and holding her tight Rain saw as Dawn hugged Artanis,

“What happened to you, are you ok?” Dawn said worried

“Oh yeah I’m fine, I just fell a couple times coming back here…damn muddy terrain” he smiled to her and taking his hand he wipes her tears from her face, “Dawn your crying” he laughed “I’m honored to be held with such worry in your heart”

“I thought...I thought that you might have been killed”

“Hey, I wouldn’t be able to say good bye if I was and I will always say good bye first” he replies with a smiled added to her face, and seeing the romance between them Cloud added his own.

“Well if everyone is reacquainted I think I’ll be off to see my daughter” Added Stark about to leave when he heard a call from Elanee

“Wait! Stark I want to thank you for all your help, I would have died out there against that thing if you weren’t there” she said giving him a hug as well, and separating he nodded,

“You’re welcome, and I’m sorry that we couldn’t get Malice”

“Excuse me, did you say Malice!” added Cynn

“Yes” he replied

“You mean the Arch lich Malice that one?” Straud asked

“Yeah him, he was partnered up with the doppelganger for he needed the children and before we could stop him he went through a portal and escaped” Stark explained

“I also saw the Matriarch Sophie in a vision from Terminus’s head as well, I think he works for her” Elanee added

“Which means that Malice and Sophie are working together” Cynn said closing her eyes and rubbing her forehead with concern

“As if we never have enough problems with Colossus and his impending army of doom on its way here, now we have them to deal with as well” Said Cloud

“You don’t think they’re all working as one do you” asked Rain

“No, I don’t think Colossus would trust Sophie after screwing over Colossus with trying to get what she wanted with giving him his prize” says Cloud

“But if the notion was there to eliminate us with overwhelming force by combining their force she might consider it” added Cynn “At least if not for only a chance to kill me again”

“I’ll cleave her in two before that option arises” snapped Straud with a comforted smile by Cynn for the defensive remark

“Man I thought I was already in pain from the brutal beating from…falling” Artanis says looking at Dawn “But the added thought of the words Colossus, Sophie and screwing kind of put me over the top” he laughed

“Artanis this is serious, all jokes aside we have a real problem” said Cynn not humored by the comment “Malice is probably after the stones as we are and if he is already in the plain we must act swiftly if we are to beat him to them” she explained

“We’re going to have to split up and go after him, Cynn needs to stay to completes the spell defenses, Tristan, Cloud and I need to organize the attack with the men, so that leaves Rain, Artanis, Dawn and Elanee you four need to go after Malice” issued Straud

“But I thought we shouldn’t leave because of our power over Colossus” said Dawn

“We need to take that chance that you’ll be here in time” Cynn answered

“And if not” said Rain

“Then six thousand troops from Storm guard, four thousand from Silver spire and eight hundred of our own men need to hold the enemy at bay until you do” Straud responded

“Count me in to” replied Stark “I’ll go to my daughter and then be back here with a group of our best druid warriors for our mere is at stake as well as your home”

“Thank you Elder” replied Cynn and hearing the cry of an infant Stark looks at the child, Elanee comes to his side and requests to take it from him, and from the exchange the baby almost instantly settles down.

“My word Elanee, you have the touch of a rightful mother, for your cradling arms hold a truly natural power” Stark says to her and as she looks upon the child she has a shine of a humble glow watching the little life move in her arms. “You have been the only one to calm her since we found her”

“Found her?” asked Rain

“She was being cared for by my friend Kate from the town of Parle, when she was taken from her and hidden by the doppelganger; I don’t know what to do with her now though”

“Why can’t Kate take her back…Oh you mean she’s. Oh god Elanee I’m so sorry I know how close you and her were growing up” sympathized from Dawn

“She has no home now” and looking at her squirm and giggle in her embrace Elanee grew a small smile “And I thought that maybe since I can’t bear children for myself that maybe I could care for her as her mother”

“Well you certainly have her vote” Artanis said

“I think she wouldn’t be happier anywhere else but by you Lady Elanee” replied Stark “And I think nothing would be more comforting to your friend than taking her most precious baring gift in her passing” he added

“I agree” said Cloud “But since you have to depart for Malice maybe you should give her to Alisianna for safe keeping until you return”

“That works for she is familiar with Alisianna as well” Said Elanee

“If you only know how close their bond was my dear commander” added Artanis looking to Cloud with a smirk and solving all problems and setting plans in motion they set out to separate and meet at Lalandra’s chamber that bare the finished portal device in a while.

Getting off his shift from taking the south end troops to their camps, Cloud retreats to his quarters which is now being shared by his beloved wife Alisianna, who at the moment is the care and custody of the young child, he enters his quarters to see her in a corner room chair with the baby in her arms being rocked back and forth.

“I see that she didn’t take long adjusting to you for as much trouble she gave Elder Stark” said Cloud coming in and putting his blade against the wall and walking up to her.

“Oh were old friends” she replied “And it’s a fact that younglings can detect aggressive behavior and are turned away from it”

“I heard that before you were nursing the child, I thought you can’t do that until you give birth yourself” asked Cloud

“As I told them before, being a nymph we carry the ability to hold the milk our whole lives, for feeding the enfant animals of the woodland realm is one of our sworn duties”

“That’s quite a public service you provide there” Cloud said laughing

“As well as an honor to accept the part raising of all woodland life” she added and watching her for a while care for the baby Cloud finally spoke his mind,

“Alisianna, when this battle comes to the enclave I want you with Dawn, she’ll be down in the depths of Lalandra’s inner caverns performing her battle meditation for the battle as well as watching over the woman and children who can’t fight themselves”

“Cloud I didn’t join your cause to run and hide during the hard times”

“But your pregnant Alisianna, and those children in your belly are our biggest concern right now, so if you are trying to save lives please stay with them and save two more” and holding her hand down on one knee as if again to propose, she nodded to his pose with agreeance.

Packing up some final things to take the portal journey with, Rain dressed in his wizard’s cloak and mother’s blade strapped tight to his side along with several other pouch bags, sees a shadowy figure overwhelmed his position from the entrance of the cave study where most of his time was always spent. Turning to look at who it is he puts his sights to Elanee walking toward him, wearing a light weighted battle armor accenting her figure and a custom blade crafted over time by the enclave itself, and barring the necklace made by Rain tightly laced around her neck, she bares down on his location.

“You almost set to go” she asked him

“Yes, just grabbing a few extras, I don’t know what that menace is capable of” Rain responded and looking at a stern look of uncertainty on her face he asks her what is wrong.

“There has been a question or more over a request from you that I wish but I’ll understand if you don’t want to”

“I can’t tell you the answer if I don’t know the request Elanee, what is it” Rain says softly to her

“You know I want to be the mother of this child”

“Yes, and a fine one you will be I’m sure of that, I think it’s a great investment in your life”

“Then I shall ask, Rain would you be her father figure in life?” Elanee poses unknowing of what she might have unleashed

“Her father, Elanee I just don’t know about it, I have so many burdens, so many unresolved issued from my own past that to place such influence from myself into a child’s life, is that wise? I don’t think I’m father material Elanee” he said to her

“Rain you carry an outlook of life not known by many men. Wise men in some cases never reach the understanding you have and it’s that ability that I ask this from you; for that understanding has made you the man you are and the man I love and the type this child needs”

“This child? Is there something different about it or something?” Rain asked

“No” she quickly covered “I meant it only in a general sense” Elanee ended not yet having told him of the true birth mother of the child for fear in what it might spark.

“Can I have some time with the request Elanee; it’s a lot to ask and needs some thought”

“Of course” she replies and says she’ll meet him in the portal room she leaves him to his packing.

As she pulls her hand away from his face, the warm yellow glow dissipates from his body and sitting up from lying on a stone table he gains a feeling of instant regenerated energy. Touching his face he feels the freedom of a scar less, cut less face.

“That’s amazing Dawn” says Artanis in sheer wonder and gratitude as he looked to his arms that were removed of all bruises and blemishes,

“It’s called the Nordame spell or full heal ability in common understanding, it was that last thing taught to me by Maylor before he…” and turning around to shield Artanis’s eyes from the continuous pain drawn to her mind every time his name is said, he comes up behind her to show his sympathetic condolences.

“It’s not easy to lose some large influence in our lives, but we move on in time” he says

“I keep thinking if only I had been quicker, I could have done something. I could have saved his life”

“There is nothing you could do Dawn, on your own you would have died going up against Colossus you must see that”

“But I was the invincible one!” she shouted to him “I was immortal! Artanis intervene! Why did he have to die!!” she yelled tearing up and turning around she cried in his arms.

“So that you wouldn’t Dawn, so that you would go on to stop Colossus and his reign of unstoppable terror” Artanis said softly

“All this strength, all this speed, all this power and I feel so vulnerable”

“It’s not because I am hiding that I joined with you and your cause Dawn, I believe as Maylor did about your goals and fighting the evil of not just Colossus or Sophie but the world and how they perceive certain judged races. That they can’t see any good coming from them, I know that it is hard Dawn but his death was not your fault or you’re doing, please don’t blame yourself” he says holding her tight and feeling the wet tears run down his body he hugs her tighter.

“You don’t know what it’s like Artanis to see death and think it’s your fault”

“And there you are wrong Dawn for a long time I blamed myself on my mother’s passing” said Artanis and wanting to hear about his mother for he never talked about it Artanis agreed and taking to her the table where he laid he told her of her.

He started with him growing up with only her, for his father was unable to see them, but it never stopped him from sending a gift to him. He was always taught right and good as best as his mother could explain for being a demon herself but for the love she shared from his father it was an attempt she had to try. The gift he got was a physical training device that every day he would work on, every while his mother would advance the level on it making it difficult more and more and every time she would she added that he needed to complete the test or he wouldn’t get a supper meal. She was kidding but sometimes he didn’t know for sure. One day when she changed the setting to the machine she gave him a big hug followed by an unforgettable mother’s kiss and said that she would always love him, and was proud of him and how we had lived different than all other’s. He didn’t understand the true meaning of the statement like he did now but enjoying the compliment he went off to train, “Remember no meal if you don’t finish Artanis” she said to him and full knowing he went off, the machine was up at its highest level ever and beat him the first try and the second too, it took him nearly all day but he finished the level test and headed home. Tearing up a bit Artanis continued his tale, he said he returned home to see the door half open to the kitchen and opening the door he saw his mother on the ground dead with a puddle of blood exiting her stomach. Artanis ran to her side begging her to wake up but she didn’t move, he knew that no one would help them due to being different from the rest and then he saw it. A bowl set out on the serving table where he sat to eat, it was still steaming and knowing that it had been just prepared fresh Artanis then realized that she had just been killed. She had seen him finish his test, he ate his meal she made him and getting a blanket he laid with her lifeless body till mourning, from that day on he grew an insufferable anger in him for a large blame on himself for not finishing the test earlier. “If only I had gotten done sooner this wouldn’t have happened” he would say to himself and growing up with the fuel of vengeance for the killer that took her he set out for revenge. He found them after a time and learned a most terrible truth, his mother knew they were coming for them and she on purpose set the machine that day to its height, knowing that he would take all day to finish. She did it so he would have been out of the danger and that is all that mattered to her, for the men he saw he would have been no match for and would have died with her. Meeting them at his elder age he finished them off the same way they killed his mother but not solving his hate or making the pain go away he heard of a way to see his mother again through a spell that was most expensive to have done. To obtain the amount needed Artanis embraced his demon side and killing for money as well as becoming a professional thief did he acquire the funds. The spell only brought to his vision her sprit again but able to see and speak with her was a comfort to his hurtful soul, and the words she said he would never forget “Artanis” she told him “If I had the chance to redo what had happened I wouldn’t, for I was proud to see the man you became, but I have seen the darkness in you and you must turn back for that was not from your raising and not part of who you are, honor me Artanis and live a good life”

“And if Maylor was able to do the same he would also have said the same to say to you Dawn” Artanis said sadden from the memory recall

“Oh Artanis I had no idea” she replied giving him a hug, when a knock came to the temple door,

“Time to get suited up boy” Straud said

“I am ready Lord Straud” he replied but seeing Straud holding an armored blood hawk clan Drow uniform in his size, Straud’s words had a different meaning.

“You have done so much for this clan that it is high time that your efforts be recognized, now pitch your wrappings of pain and suffering and replace them with draping cloth of honor, and that’s an order” he said smiling as he left the doorway leaving it leaning against the archway.

Meeting up at the portal device Cloud, Straud, Cynn and Tristan sit awaiting the travelers and as they arrive Cloud is surprised at Artanis’s new look, having chained gloves and boots to match, he carried a chain mesh shirt under heavy plated across his chest finished with a cape holding the clan colors on his back.

“Nice skins” said Cloud

“There different but I think I can get used to it” Smiled Artanis

“I think he looks great” Replied Dawn following him

“And what else would you say to him” added Rain as he entered with Elanee at his side laughing to the quote

“Nothing that your ears are allowed to hear” she said to Rain

“Remember, Get the stone and get out and avoid Malice if you can” repeated Cynn and coming up to Rain Lalandra requests to have a mind link with him using Elanee’s power to transfer an image, allowing it she sends to Rain’s mind an image of a device that she calls the sphere of timeless torment. She explains that it was lost to the plain for ages and if there could be the best way to defeat him, the device can be activated with an aggressive spell, but is warned that the vortex created by the device can imprison any in its area of effect. Rain nods to the added help and warning and the group stands ready to precede the gateway.