After flying for a couple of hours, Reece and his companions took a break for lunch. It consisted of leftovers the Rakshasa had given them after breakfast. It was a cold meal in the cold climes of the Pakistan foothills, but they enjoyed it immensely. It was a simple reminder of the time they shared with new allies. Having little time to waste, they resumed their flight. Aspen gave them all a sap rubdown on their inner thighs, causing numerous jokes and momentary discomfort, but they all appreciated the easing of their saddle sores from the previous flight. The rest of the day had them flying over Iran.

“Naeva,” asked Reece. “Did you want to check in on your homeland?”

“I do and I don’t,” she replied, replying with the mind link he had established with her.

“I understand,” replied Reece. “Just let us know if you’d like to take a detour.”

“Okay,” she responded, but she didn’t request the detour, obviously realizing that there was very little chance that anyone she knew would still be alive, despite their hardy ancestry.

They flew low for a while; in case someone saw them. They all knew that the Order had spies everywhere. Landing near a dryland farm, they found a small village nestled against a rocky ridge. The houses were of varying sizes, but almost all were built from reddish clay. Looking for a place to stay, they picked one of the larger structures with heavy timbers reinforcing the roof. A quick search indicated that whoever had lived here had left long ago and not even any signs of zombies or other creatures were found. It seemed like the idyllic spot to make a camp for the night.

They all split up into pairs and scouted the camp, Reece and Naeva exploring a small house on the edge of the village. The downstairs was torn up, but the upstairs was in good condition. The doors had been closed and the pair of windows unbroken. Naeva gave Reece a promising smile when they explored the bedroom. Dropping their gear to claim the spot, they returned to the others.

Once everyone met back up at the small herd of Qilin, they ate another cold meal of breakfast leftovers, sliced apples, bacon, pre-scrambled eggs, and wheat bread. With their bellies full, everyone found a place to settle down for the night. Hank and Dmitri took the first watch while Reece examined the darkening sky.

“It looks like a storm may be moving in,” he said.

“Yeah, it gets rainy during this part of the year,” said Naeva. “But this storm looks worse than I remember. You’re going to have to snuggle me extra close tonight.”

“Alright, that sounds nice,” said Reece, smiling warmly at the Lycaon woman.

Her eyes went wide, and her lips slightly parted in surprise. Reece usually gave her a hard time whenever she wanted to get frisky, but tonight he had simply agreed. She recovered quickly and smiled back at him, a little mischievous gleam in her eye.

They all jumped when a loud boom rolled across the area. It seemed like the storm would be one of lightning and thunder. Everyone who wasn’t on watch headed inside the varied homes to try and get some rest. Reece watched with a furrowed brow as Celia led Taela by the hand into one of the houses. Before he could decipher if that meant something, Naeva was pulling him toward the building they had decided to sleep in for the night. Suddenly remembering the Qilin, Reece looked around and spotted Shenfu resting in the dirt.

“Go,” said Shenfu in his mind, clearly having predicted the question. “We love the rain and the thunder. We’ll be enjoying ourselves as much as you... well, nearly.”

Before Reece could respond, Naeva pulled on him again. He relented and let her lead him into their chosen house. The mattresses in the downstairs rooms were all chewed up and ruined, but the one upstairs sat in one of the rooms that had been closed off from the rest of the house. It had one window, and everything in the room was in fair condition. They had made sure earlier.

Shutting the door behind them, Naeva undressed. It only took her a few seconds to remove the flimsy tank top and rope-tied shorts from her muscular frame. Admiring Naeva’s sexy body, Reece wasted no time in following suit. Stepping into him, she kissed him with a sizzling passion that she’d obviously been holding in for too long. Reece felt, the same, though the Naga’s haze was long gone, the effect it had on him lingered. Now that he understood his heritage better, he knew that this was what made him tick and he had quite a bit of erotic history with the gorgeous woman in his arms. She pulled away with a wicked smile on her face. Her eyes never leaving his own, she slowly knelt in front of him and took his manhood in her mouth.

Watching her eyes as she pleasured him, Reece smiled. After a few minutes of Naeva’s wonderful warm bliss, he picked her up and laid her smoldering body back on the bed to reciprocate her gift. He did what came naturally and brought her repeatedly toward the edge until she couldn’t take it anymore.

“I need you inside me,” she growled. “Now!”

“What’s gotten into you?” asked Reece, raising his eyebrows at her sudden forcefulness, yet smiling like a fool, nonetheless.

“It’s near the full moon, alright,” she said. “That’s when we are in heat, didn’t I ever tell you that?”

“Maybe,” replied Reece. “But I honestly don’t recall. Anyways, where were we?”

She lay there smiling, her legs spread, inviting him to crawl onto her body and cover it with his own. He did just that. Her eyes bore into his own with a feverish need. Propped up above her, Reece leaned in and kissed her hard on the lips. She kissed him back with an intensity that set his passion ablaze. As their tongues twirled around each other, Reece entered her in one slow thrust. She was more than ready for him. Both the ease of his entry and her low throaty growl proved it.

She gasped when he bottomed out, pleasantly surprised, before pushing her hips back against him, matching his rhythm. The two of them made love like that for over an hour, both reaching their peaks of pleasure more than once. Exhausted, they fell asleep in each other’s arms while the sounds of thunder grew louder, and the pitter-patter of rain started echoing off the rooftop and the window beside them.

************************************

A cacophony of screams, howls, roars, and gunshots cut through the night, waking up Naeva and Reece instantly. Just as Naeva sprung up to grab her cargo pants, a huge form, dark and hairy, burst through the window, sending glass flying everywhere. Before either of them could react, a huge, clawed hand swiped across Naeva, opening three huge gashes across her torso. Naeva’s blood splattered across the small room as her badly injured body collapsed to the floor.

“No!” screamed Reece, forcing himself into the thing’s mind before the shock of what had just happened could register.

The battlespace appeared, this one an empty tundra of dirt and scrub brush. The beast appeared about ten meters away as was the norm. Now that he could see it clearly, it looked like a lycaon. Thefact that it had just attacked one of its own was not lost upon Reece. Despite that, he barely paused in his attack, the fear of losing Naeva giving way to rage. That rage caused him to lash out at the beast with little thought. He projected a shotgun into his hands and imagined it loaded with silver pellet-filled shells. Turning the gun on the unknown Lycaon, Reece hit it with two blasts to the center of its mass. Howling in pain and reeling back two steps, it didn’t even see the silver scythe that Reece brought down upon it, severing it nearly in two.

Back in his body and in control of what Reece now realized was a Lycaon, he dashed to Naeva’s prone form to check on her. Turning her over, he was amazed that she was still alive. Her eyes were wide open, and she was trying to speak as blood dripped from her mouth. She focused on him, her eyes flitting back and forth between his.

“It’s okay, Reece,” she gasped. “I knew this *cough* was going to happen...*cough, cough* I know you’ll *cough* take care of little Angel...aaaa....love...y....”

He watched her eyes close just before his vision blurred with the tears that he could feel streaming down his cheeks. Blinking his tears away, he closed her eyelids and turned to the Lycaon, knowing everyone was still in danger. His heart hurt. He hadn’t felt this way since Aika had died that first night back on the planet. Thinking back to Thato’s teachings, he struggled for a minute but eventually found his center. He stared hard at the Lycaon hybrid for a moment before speaking.

“You, what’s your name?” he demanded through gritted teeth as he started suiting up, emotionally numb as he went through the motions mechanically.

“Bijan Amari,” growled the Lycaon, the words impossibly deep as they came from his wolf-like maw.

“Amari?” asked Reece, his mind reeling all over again as he absently slid his arm into one of his sleeves.

“Yes,” growled Bijan, maintaining the resonance of his voice. “Why?”

“Because the woman you just attacked is an Amari as well,” answered Reece in a low growl. “Naeva Amari, that’s why!”

“No, you lie!” growled the Lycaon, louder and deeper, while he loped over to look upon Naeva’s still body and sniff at her.

A long wailing howl escaped his jaws as he turned his head to the ceiling. After a moment, he turned back to Reece.

“I know I have no right to ask this of you,” said Bijan in his deep growl. “But allow me to assist you with this attack.”

“Why?” asked Reece. “Why suddenly help us?”

“Because she’s my daughter,” huffed the Lycaon, his massive shoulders slumping helplessly. “I’ve attacked my own daughter.”

“Fine,” hissed Reece, a sickness rising in his belly. “Just… just get out there and stop the rest of this attack.”

The wolf-man nodded solemnly before leaping back out into the rain. Looking back down at Naeva’s limp form, desperation forced Reece to try something with little chance to succeed. He knew his body healed itself of physical injuries by using sexual energy. After the previous night, he was literally buzzing with that energy. Still cradling her in his arms, Reece concentrated on his energy, feeling it coursing through his body. Pressing as much exposed skin as he could against her own lightly clad body, he closed his eyes tightly and willed the energy to pass from his own body into hers.

Nothing happened. Gritting his teeth, Reece tried harder, using everything he had learned from Thato, Chippo, Aika, Karina, and Shenfu to clear his mind of everything except healing Naeva with his energy. Finally, he felt it flow through his skin and into her body. It seemed to be working but still, nothing happened. He kept at it for several minutes until he ran out of energy. Still, he waited to see if anything changed with the woman in his arms. It didn’t. Maybe he just didn’t have the ability to heal others, or maybe she was simply too far gone. In either case, it didn’t work.

Screaming in pain, he gently rested Naeva’s body on the wooden floor. Looking at her one last time, Reece tried to stand up but couldn’t. He was a broken man. Knowing he couldn’t stay that way, knowing that others out there needed him, he forced his sorrow to turn to anger. Sorrow was useless in this situation but rage he could use to get moving. He could hear the battle still raging all around him and he needed to get into the fight. There would be time to mourn later. He needed to get up. This time, his anger allowed him to stand.

Seething with rage, Reece pulled his automatic pistols and went to the now broken window, staring out into the stormy night. Without thinking, he jumped to the ground below, too angry to think of the five-meter distance. When he landed, Reece dropped to one knee to soften the violent impact of his feet hitting the ground. Surprisingly, it didn’t hurt. Standing back up, he surveyed the area through the hard rain. The full moon was partially obscured, so he relied on the near-constant lightning to get a picture of what was happening.

Hank and Dmitri were the first he noticed through the darkness, only lit by the moonlight that managed to make it through the dark clouds. They were locked in battle with a Lycaon. Both Hank and the wolf-man were badly wounded, bleeding from multiple injuries. Dmitri was all but out of the fight, crawling towards his hammer while blood dripped from his chest and shoulder.

All around, the Qilin were locked in a vicious battle with fully transformed Lycaons, looking much like massive prehistoric wolves. Several Lycaons lay dead or dying, but Reece saw that at least two Qilin lay unmoving as well. He also saw Bijan looking on helplessly. The man was obviously distraught for having killed his own daughter.

“Help them,” yelled Reece to Bijan, indicating the Qilin.

Turning, he ran for Hank before another Lycaon could sneak up and finish the wendigo off while the wounded Lycaon kept his attention. Reece fired his pistols into the Lycaon, aiming for his arms and legs. It took a dozen hits, but the Lycaon fell to his knees before falling back onto the wet ground. The wolf-man lay moaning in a heap, his life blood pooling beneath him. Turning his guns on the wounded one facing Hank, he repeated the move, sending the Lycaon to its knees with multiple holes in its legs.

“Stop!” yelled Reece at the top of his lungs, unconsciously putting power into the command, a power amplified by his agony and reamplified by the nearly complete nightcore in his possession.

Despite him being drained from his ill-fated attempt at saving Naeva, the only thing that didn’t stop was the rain. No one moved a muscle; friend or foe. Reece glared around at every living thing he could see, the rain hiding the tears still falling from his eyes.

“Come here, now!” he commanded, anger and power surging through his veins.

Within seconds, dozens of Lycaons and his companions alike formed up before him. The clouds parted for a moment, releasing the nearly full moon to reveal what the darkness had hidden. Every Lycaon wore a heavy collar, the likes of which Reece had seen far too many times. He also noticed that all his companions were present and accounted for, except for Naeva of course.

“Lycaons, why do you fight us?” demanded Reece through clenched teeth.

“Because, if we don’t, they torture us,” said Bijan, speaking for them all.

“The shock collars?” asked Reece.

Bijan nodded.

“Thought so,” said Reece. “Bijan, come over here and kneel before me.”

Bijan, under Reece’s command, didn’t hesitate. The rest of the Lycaons looked at each other, tilting their heads, their eyes narrowing. Reece pulled several objects from his pockets, including a large cutting device. He placed it over Bijan’s collar but before he could cut it, all the Lycaons started convulsing on the ground, electricity flowing from the collars. Dropping the cutters, Reece pressed the button on the other device he had pulled forth and the Lycaons stopped thrashing in pain. Instead, they looked up at him and then at each other, clearly not understanding what had happened.

“Angel, could you hold this thing while I free them all?” asked Reece, indicating the electromagnetic interference device.

It only took a few minutes, and Reece had managed to turn an entire tribe of Lycaons from an enemy to friends by releasing them from their servitude. Bijan approached him once again, this time as a normal-looking man. He had a grey beard that spread to his temples but otherwise looked like a strong man in his prime. Reece could see the resemblance with Naeva, even in the dim moonlight.

“I have done as you’ve asked, despite myself,” he said, his voice shaking with grief. “Please, grant me a warrior’s death and let the others take my daughter to be buried with her people.”

“I don’t think so,” answered Reece evenly. “Naeva’s my people too. Beyond all we’ve been through together, I loved her, and she is the mother of one of my children. You have a grandson, Bijan. For that reason and every other being fighting for the future of this planet, your fight is not over.

Bijan stood stock still, his mouth parted while his eyes grew wide. Reece couldn’t be sure Bijan had heard everything he had told him.

“I have a grandson?” asked Bijan, his face growing pale, the twinkle of moonlight reflecting off the shimmering tears that welled up within his eyes.

“You do,” said Reece. “And if you ever want to meet him, you’ll help us defeat this asshole who set you on a course to kill your own daughter.”

Ciera, Taela, and Angel all rushed forward.

“What are you talking about, Reece? asked Angel as the color drained from his face. “Where’s Naeva?”

Ciera looked at him with wild eyes, Taela holding her up as he told them in a whisper, all that he could manage over the emotions that threatened to drown him. “She’s dead, killed by her own tribe, her own father.”

“Who’s dead?” questioned Naeva as she walked up to the group.

She had thrown on a heavy jacket, boots, and some pants but looked incredibly weak. Her wane smile at her companions illustrated that point. Reece could still see the blood spray on her throat and neck from the heavy chest wounds that had been inflicted on her.

Reece’s eyes shot wide, and he ran to her. Snatching her up in a bear hug, he kissed her repeatedly. She felt frail and cold but though weak, kissed him back. Everyone else was looking on in confusion except for Bijan. He fell to his knees and wept tears of joy. His daughter was alive. He hadn’t killed her after all. Reece could see the relief on the man’s face as he held the man’s daughter in his arms. Bijan had been ready to die for what could not be undone. But Reece had done it... or undone it, rather. At least he thought he had. It seemed his ability to heal others was real after all.