"If you love somebody, let them go. For if they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were."

— Kahlil G.

Mist started rolling in from nowhere, encasing them in a blinding fog. "Tell me how to help you." she panicked, hating the sight of smoke and wishing she could get off the mountain as soon as possible.

"The screams." He gave a dark laugh, "It's pulling me back."

"Back where?"

His eyes went crazed. "TO MY FUCKING UNIVERSE"

The words coming out of his mouth morphed into a beastly roar, sending a pulsing wave of power "GET BACK"

For a beat of a second, she didn't know what she was seeing. Fur burst out from his skin in dark brown pelts. His back grew larger in a towering arch that defied human proportions. Yellow-like substance covered his eyes and when he blinked, it turned his eyes into a full-blown black color.

"Fuck no" she breathed, falling hard on her bottom and leaning further back to see a giant bear rising above the mist in an impossible height. He's freaking huge, she thought.

Like a lock sliding into place, her mind connected to his. Hey there. she said carefully.

The big bear's entire body jerked backwards, surprised.

I got you, she projected to his mind. You're not going anywhere. I got you right here, right now. It's going to be all right. No one is pulling you anywhere you don't want to go.

A gunshot echoed near them and she grunted in pain, covering her ear drums as it got struck by its sudden noise wave. Her ears were ringing and the sharp tangy smell of sulfur wafted to her nostrils and she looked back over her shoulder to see Rover pulling back the barrel of a shotgun in a smooth sliding motion and without even missing a beat, he fired in her direction.

Instincts kicked in and she had to fall flat forward over the black dirt on the ground, covering her head with both arms.

"You ok?" Rover called to her, calm as chilled snow. When she didn't answer back right away, he grabbed her by the arms to jerk her into standing up. What he saw in her face made him irritated, "Jesus Christ, River. It's just a couple of gunshots. You don't need to be such a prude."

Her gaze fell on the shotgun that was slung over his shoulder, it was the same gun that had been aimed at them for intruding earlier "That isn't yours."

"Oh this? I borrowed it." he said non-chalantly, "Let me get the guys. Have them come over. Otherwise, they wouldn't believe what I just caught." he started backing away, "Don't leave this spot, ok? We'll start calling for you if we get lost coming here. Come on, River. You owe me. Do me a solid, all right?"

She gulped, her blood running cold at the sight of him retreating into the shadows of the treeline. Disquiet fell upon the place with crickets starting to play out their symphony in preparation for the dawning night.

A harsh animalistic breath mewled behind her and she froze, not willing to see what two barrels of a shotgun can do to a bear. The bear was bleeding out, she knew that much. But she couldn't muster the strength to see him that way. Just then, the distinct smell of iron blew in a soft breeze passing by her and she choked a sob. Closing her eyes, she squared her shoulders and began to focus in opening their connection bit by bit, searching for his mind. It was there, albeit weak like embers of a glowing coal.

But it should be enough.

She has done this before. She might not have the strength of a fully fledged vocal chorus to begin with but she should be enough, right?

On her own?

The phantom touch of a memory brushed against her mind. She could still feel and remember the warmth of their touch. How U'tu would wrap his hand around hers. How Crow encased her in a dizzying warm hug that melted off her worries. How Aidan had snuggled up to her in a bed that felt like heaven. The warm memories came to her, giving her the strength to muster up a firm resolve.

She didn't really know what she was doing the last time she has done this. What would she focus on?

Can she just sing a random song, would that even be enough?

Her throat locked on its own, unwilling to move a muscle. A numbing sensation pulsed around her neck up to her face, and she started clenching her jaw to put off the paralyzing fear of failure.

Then Bla'keh's words came to her. About Brumcia's beloved. He did say something about divine providence. Maybe, just maybe, she can call out to whatever divinity is powering the myths of behagthi. Or the Great World.

With nothing but a flimsy spark of hope, she took a deep breath, focusing on the pages off Bla'keh's book. Immediately, the sun prince prophecy swam behind her eyes in a fuzzy burst of memory. It began clearing away like a ripple of water calming to a stand-still until its pages became crystal clear to her. She sang, pushing past the emotions lodged in her throat. However what fell out of her mouth was an entire prophecy.

Never heard before.

Yet somehow, something in her spirit told her it had always been there.

♦♦♦

Let there be ancient echoes

across the land of lands.

Witness this great big dance,

pushing & pulling right

from the beginning.

Heart to heart wildness burning,

blowing away in the wings of a blast.

♦

Come to see the sun-blessed,

A prince in the throes of bringing

massive wealth of treasures.

In the dawn of his Midnight Year,

the Champion of Age will fall.

At his hands, ushering the sun tribe

as a pillar of greatness.

♦

Come to see the one blessed of air

whose throne lies hidden,

flooded by a menace of liquid winter.

Let there be the sun shining

upon these blood-stained waters until

each and all could be

purified

from a touch of starlight.

♦

Come to see the water-blessed

whose bindings are tied to

a damned creature

writhing between life & death.

At his hands, the power of eternity.

♦♦

Emerge, the darkened prince

Brumcia's safe harbor

Lost and exiled

whose heart lies buried

underneath the starry skies

Forever still forever in order.

♦

Dance upon the sunken ground

Raise the enormous past

See how deep the place

from which life flows.

♦♦

A prestige only given to

Brumcia's Beloved.

Revel in your victory,

For the Summer Age bestows

A dynasty laden with riches.

♦♦♦

Darkening shadows fell overhead as more clouds started drifting in until the whole damned forest got swallowed by a gloom, washing the world in a colorless shade. Mist crawled closer across the ground, finding its way towards River and it grew taller, thicker in a blinding fog.

A large breath of air ballooned inside her chest, lodging itself behind her throat like an oncoming hiccup. Pushing it out in a careful exhalation, the force of her powered breath rippled outwards, blowing open a circular space that cleared around her. She stood with her spine straight, neck open within a powerful circle lined with blinding fog as a barrier from the outside.

They weren't in the forest now.

They were suspended in a dark matter of space.

A leyline was successfully opened up, charging the cold air into something strange and unfamiliar.

Plumes of white smoke started wrapping around the bear's form, enclosing him like a shrouded cocoon. It was working, she thought, intensifying her singing to a building crescendo.

With nothing but fevered hope, she wished hard for this dark and dreary place to heal him like it did for Crow and Aidan, both of which had suffered fatal injuries like the bear. She really had no idea what was going on or what had happened to make it like so. But it has happened before, and all she can think to do is to recreate it and hope for the best. She really should have asked more questions from last time it happened rather than getting swept up by the princes.

The fog kept gathering around the giant bear until he disappeared in it leaving her unable to see what was going on with him, leaving her to wonder if the healing thing ever worked.

Keep going, she heard the bear speak in her mind. His voice sounding stronger, a little bit gruff and maybe tired but it didn't sound so weak anymore.

Her voice paused then renewed to a childhood lullaby that stretched into a hollowed tune, the music prickling at her emotions, plucking away her reserves and inhibitions until its haunting tune encapsulated her deepest darkest wish. A wish so shameful and embarrassing to even admit out loud.

She just wanted to go home. That's all. It's all she has ever wanted.

Simple as that. But, so terrifying. What sort of place would even welcome someone as her? If they did let her in, given enough time, they are bound to see what her parents had seen in her. Because something in her must have told them that she wasn't worth it. There must be something about her that told people to leave her alone, abandon ship, and run to the hills.

Shivers ran through her spine. Fear and disgust churning in her gut. She was an outsider, will always be an outsider. No matter how nice the people around her could become.

A behagthi.

She thought she could hear U'tu laughing like a distant memory, her heart reaching out for its warmth, wishing for it far more than she has ever wished for anything before. She knew in her heart of hearts that there was nothing for her back in the city. In a crowd of roommates in a shabby apartment building, it paled in comparison to that strange universe. She would have taken on battles with those damned brothers over the battles she would have to endure with her parents.

It was pitiful, really. Something in her screamed for whatever scrap of attention the cursed princes and U'tu will give her. She'll take anything they have left to give no matter how small because by far, they were the closest thing she ever came to having a family. And she needed it like she needed to take her next breath.

Setting her jaw, she forced her thoughts to Brumcia, imploring to her through a song, begging for some mythical divinity to grant her wish to come back home no matter how far-fetched. She was glad Dr. Malia pushed her into taking lessons in opera singing. The wide range and belting of her voice felt like it could reach the ears of a god.

Then, as if her notes struck a divine chord, the looming black shadows and fogging mist that encased them had disappeared, blown away by a forceful gust of wind that pulled her hair back to its roots. Raising both arms, she shielded her eyes and ears from the whistling storm of strong winds. When it died down, the forest blinked awake, becoming visible from the darkness, shadows falling away.

Crickets began singing a different tune, an eerie slow symphony than what she was used to hearing. It was nighttime, and the moonlight fell upon the forest revealing different shades of blue and black in the trees and shrubberies.

The bear rose up on its hind feet, hyperaware. Its ears perking in every direction. Then it started racing off into the treeline and revealing the man behind him, naked. He was confused and angry. His black hair was in disarray, long curling locks of it brushing down to the nape of his neck and some of the curling strands fell past his forehead.

"You did this—" he accused her.

But then the bear, his beast form, made a roaring noise from the far distance. The sound shot the birds into the skies, startling them awake from their branches.

She gasped at the noise, watching the sudden movement of the squawking birds. Then she looked up to the sky, seeing a new moon. Like a different moon. One that was nothing like she had looked up to as a child.

"Are you coming?" he asked with urgency.

"I can't chase after a bear," she uttered, her eyes glued to the sky, dumbfounded at the incredible sight of a strange moon, "I can't move fast enough to keep up."

Immediately, he swept her up into his arms and gave chase to his bear. "He won't listen to me," he said out loud, frustration in his tone. "He says he wants to go back home."

Same here, she thought, keeping quiet and listened to his even heartbeat that hadn't started up in spite of his break-neck speed. This man moved faster than a cheetah, and it's not even costing him anything. She envied that.

Holden, he spoke in her mind, My name is Holden.

He must have heard her thoughts. I wish I could say it's very nice to meet you, Holden. But with all these trouble I brought to your doorstep, and the fires, and my brother shooting you, she trailed off.

He went quiet then said, That wasn't your fault.

I am their guide. I'm supposed to be looking after them. Then it all got out of hand.

They are grown-ass men. They should have known better. If anything, I'm blaming the sorry-jerks who raised them. Could have taught them a thing or two about manners.

Still, you should know that I am very sorry about the shit storm.

His grip on her tightened, You want to tell me what you did back there?

Oh, she thought quietly, I thought to undo what my brother did to you. By singing, I know it's kind of silly.

That was singing? I thought you might have been dying, and you were just wailing out loud to mark your inevitable death. For a solid moment there, I thought I was listening to some unholy music. Doing things like that should be kept to yourself. Never with an audience, Ms—

River, she thought to him. And here I was expecting a little bit of appreciation to my newly-found healing powers. It wasn't exactly easy, you know. I found that the more emotional I get into it, the more it powers up. I really had to get in there, and reach into my heart of hearts.

You heart of hearts sounds like it needs to go to the vet. Have it humanely put down for the mercy of us all.

She pinched both his cheeks hard with both hands, You dare give me sass after I did all I can to save your life?

After your brother shot me!

You turned into a bear! That would have frightened anyone.

They emerged out of the treeline, into a grassland meadows that rolled downhill to a city with greystone buildings. It must be really late into the night since there were very few lights in the city and the strange moon was sitting at its highest.

"This is the dark tribe," he said out loud, looking over the wide expanse of the starry sky, "But it's not."

The bear chuffed, pacing restlessly. As they stood there in silence, making sense of what it all meant, the bear turned into a translucent spirit and wafted its way back into Holden's body.

"You've been here before?" she said, "And you have a guardian animal. Then you must be—"

Her cheeks flushed at the sight of him naked.

"Your Majesty!" a man from the bottom of the hills ran up to them in a speed that matched a human's running rate. It was Russ'lo sweating from running up hill with a bag slung on his shoulder. "When you didn't appear in your usual spot, I thought you might be here." He settled in front of them with a flourishing bow. Yet there was a dismal aura that drooped around him like a heavy cloud. With his eyes a darker shade of green, there were frown lines that marred the sides of his mouth when he pressed it into a line. "I didn't think we would be getting more students. The dark tribe sure is growing popular, isn't it?" He looked to the dark prince, unfazed. Like seeing him naked was a normal thing for him. "I'm sure it was the appeal of having His Dark Majesty instructing classes for a whole season for the first time in.. ever. After all, there is very little otherwise to attract students to our rigorous training grounds."

Holden grew pensive as he was handed a bag by Russ'lo. "She isn't a student." Then he disappeared in a single second and in the next, the bag he held was already empty. He appeared again with a full set of clothes, wearing a golden embellished black coat over his green shirt.

"Your Majesty, you almost forgot this." Russ'lo plucked a golden brooch in the shape of a bear in the throes of a wild roar and pinned it on his shirt collar. He gave a wry smile that darkened his features to one of sadness, "You look like you've seen a ghost" then turning to River, he said "Don't mind his weirdness. He gets like this after a burst of running about in the rainforest. It's the way of our dark king. Oh, you must forgive me. I haven't even asked your name and where are you from? I'm sensing you might be behagthi" then he burst into laughter, "But that can't be right. The dark king will have you taken care of, for sure. It's been like what? Four kills, huh, since the last one."

"Kills?" she repeated, her mouth going dry.

"Four behagthi kills," he said in praise, tapping the prince in the shoulder. "Nipping them right off from the get-go before they set off convoluting chaos. Yet another milestone achievement for the dark tribe. A feat no one has ever dared to do but the dark king himself, that is."

Her heart raced to a mile a minute, wondering what the hell she can say to keep her out of trouble. Right about when she was compelled to lie, U'tu's words came to her in a pinch and she mirrored those words with stunning mimicry "Teh rurum ka River galiyo luna"

"No click marker in your name?" Russ'lo said "You must be someone of a royal breed. Well, I won't have expected any less since the dark king himself recommends you. I'm afraid to tell that you missed the welcoming orientation this season, but here in the dark tribe, we encourage questions no matter when or how odd or simple. We are a teaching village, after all." He turned to leave with a bow, marching back to the dark tribe that looked more like a city with paved stones for roads, greystone buildings that went up to higher floor levels, and candlelight lampposts.

"Teaching village? Isn't the sun tribe a teaching village too?" she asked him in a whisper.

"You—" he frowned, closing his eyes in a bid for patience "You've got a lot to answer for."

"Answer? I am filled with questions."

"Are you coming?" Russ'lo called to them.

Both of them yelled their agreement.

"I could have sworn I saw him in the sun tribe" she said, "Do you know him?"

"Not like he knows me." he tensed, a muscle jumping in his square jaw "I don't kill behagthis. We would— I would never. They're revered friends of the divines."

"There is another universe I've just gotten lost into. It was a world where the sun wears three rings, one silver, one gold an—"

"..and one invisible ring to glare unto the night in a maelstrom of fresh powder light." he put a hand over his heart, "May Brumcia know rest."

"You're the lost dark prince, aren't you?" she said, pulling away from him. River wasn't always the sort to believe in rumors, but his reputation gave her pause. There was a manner about him that seemed cut in a razor sharp edge. His gaze were piercing, and almost ruthless like he was analyzing her in a critical light.

Without saying a word, he walked down the hill towards the greystone city with the leisure of a king who knew he owned every bit of property throughout a hundred-mile radius.

She wanted to run off in the opposite direction towards the forest and make another foggy portal to another world. But there was a gravity to him that she couldn't pull away from. In this universe, he was an outsider just as much as she was. And her heart bled at the fresh reminder of being abandoned. So, there was no question about it. He wasn't going to be left alone. Not until he says otherwise.

She ran up to him easily as they walked in a pace together along the street paved with grey cobblestones. Then after the third time they passed the same greystone building that was uniform like the others, he peered down to her, understanding dawning in his features. "I can't believe I'm getting dragged by a behagthi's chaos" he sighed, "I can totally see why they kill them in this universe."

"If that is the case, shouldn't we be getting back, then? I think I can muster up a few arias to get it going, it's actually not a big deal opening it up. It's the charging that really takes the cake out of me but I think I can do it. I'd really rather not sit like a sitting duck. Sooner or later someone is going to realize I'm not tribespeople. I mean it should be glaringly obvious, I don't have super-speed or super-strength"

In an instant, he froze.

River had been busy paying attention to the ornate trims and moldings displayed on the greystone buildings that she bumped into his back when he stopped moving forward.

Turning back, his eyes grew hooded as he looked down his nose at her. Holden moved faster than her eyes could follow at the next second, then he watched him sheathe his dagger back into his belt.

She felt her jaw unhinged from shock, there was a warm trickle of blood flowing freely from her neck. When she gasped for breath, she felt her fresh wound swell open. Her body gave out in shock, knees weakening and legs crashing underneath her.

He snickered when she landed on her elbows, steadying herself. His large hand curled around her neck, covering over the open slit and pushing it close with a firm pressure.

It hurt like hell.

Settling on his haunches, he whispered to her, "Get this healed. Should be a dilapidated building down this block, then head to your next right. You're looking for a house overflowing with white roses." She made a grab for his wrist, prying it away. It made him smile. "I can rightfully assume it's the same old greystone building of healer. Everything looks the same as it were back in my universe so a healer's house won't be much different. Now, head on over there. Don't look at me like that. Aren't you the least bit interested in this universe? They call me their king. We haven't had a king for centuries. Not since the tribes separated. Dark king has such a nice ring to it, isn't it? Suits me well. And I won't want my subjects waiting for me any longer, will I? Be a good girl and get yourself to the healer. I'm leaving you here, River. No one should ever see us touch, do you hear me?"

Releasing her, he rose to his full height.

"Come on, quit looking at me like that. It's a superficial wound. It can't be fatal, at least not for tribespeople" he laughed, "I'm never sure around humans. Trust me, I'm doing you a favor by not holding you in front of anyone. Once you get your healing underway, it will explain your loss of strength and speed."

He turned to leave, heading for the giant castle at the heart of the city. Then, he stopped again, shaking his head. "Four kills," he mused. "Four kills of the Divine's revered friends. If they truly cared, tribespeople would have all been dead. If the divines truly cared, no one should be breathing, no one would be left alive as all would have been forsaken by the gods. That is a Divine's wrath. Fuck look at you. Pitiful, really. How they don't believe in behagthis around here. I like this universe, it makes sense. They make sense, finally. You won't believe how much backlash I got from believing that behagthis are monsters. And just from that, I'm exiled. I got exiled from telling everybody the truth about behagthis. Friends of Brumcia, more like her harbingers of chaos. Monsters, the lot of you. It seems this universe has done good by killing them off. I'd even go far in saying they're well-off by the looks of it. A king. A dark tribe king! Believe me, I could have you killed right the fuck now, and still have this dark tribe standing strong with me as their rightful king. But I won't. Because I'm not a monster. Not like you are. However, you did save my life, brought me here, and pulled me out of exile. I owe you this much. I'm giving you this chance. Follow the rules, and don't make any trouble, hear that? Next time I see you, I won't be so lenient. Also, you know what since we're hanging it all out, I don't want you talking in my head ever again. It creeps me the fuck out. You creep me out. Don't ever show your face to me."

With his back turned, he disappeared in a flash.

River squared her shoulders, steeling her spine to rise to her feet. She stumbled standing up, her hand around her neck hurting with the added pressure to keep it firm in closing.

A male voice called, standing next to a lamp post. "What he said, was any of it true?"

She garbled a wet sound behind her throat as she found a familiar face.

U'tu stood before her, a few years older and wiser. The playful smile that had been a permanent fixture on his face was wiped off clean. Instead, he was a downtrodden teenager without his usual exuberant glow.

His eyes narrowed, but then he pulled away as a cloud of gloom settled over his features. There was a tinge of restraint in the way he stood, almost guarded "Are you behagthi?" he said, watching the floor and not quite meeting her in the eyes. Then, he took a cautious step forward, "The dark king held you. With his bare hands, I saw it. And yet you bleed. You're supposed to be a corpse right now. Dried up like black dirt, withering away." His breathing stuttered as he raised his gaze to meet hers, "You're supposed to be ashes and soot."

River was clamping both hands around her neck. She pulled away one bloodied hand with painstaking effort and held his cheek.

Right away, the locks slid into place. The threshold of their minds opening up in a fluid motion like water freely flowing. Get me help now.