"I've always been afraid of change. Mostly, it comes from being raised in a community so loyal to the old ways, change is considered decay. The other reason is because I don't want anyone to get hurt. If she changes her loyalty, friends become enemies and a young soul becomes torn, both are damages I want to avoid," she said, "Tieral has been one of my closest friend. I had found him alone in the woods, and from there  we grew to trust each other as if we were siblings. I wouldn't be able to bear with myself If I managed to hurt him, especially if Goldenscale is involved."

"If he grew with you, wouldn't he understand better.  He should know how much you lost then.  Everyone should be able to experience the warm feelings of love.  If spending time with Goldenscale makes you happy, then he should be able to understand.  Goldenscale has never understood what it was like to know what being loved felt like until a couple weeks ago.  She has been given to several families and she also had the tragedy of being attacked by one of her own kind and not understanding.  You both had each other growing up while she had no one but Konoki.  Now she is steadily understanding, but you and Tieral must understand what it is like.  She finds it hard now to give anything up; life, happiness, her friends and family.  She considers each of her enforcers as her family.  To her, her families happiness matters most.  Tieral should understand." she said, getting up.

"Tieral understands how I feel, but not because her grew up with me. I had already been a part of the community a few years when I found him, and I took it upon myself to watch over him. There is no worse betrayal than taking a friend's mate, no matter how it happened.  Trust is fragile and hard to build. If I ended up being Goldenscale's mate rather than him after everything he's done to show his love to her, his trust in me would be shattered," she said, "He understands friends are supposed to be close, but a friend is also expected to not take something so precious."

"I understand, but shouldn't you be able to want happiness as well?  You would not be truly taking her from him, but merely getting to know one another more." she said.  

"That is where my fear comes in. Over the course of a year, she might have a change of heart on who she wishes to spend her life with. She is a factor that is without control," she said, sinking a claw into the soil below her to create a magnified snowflake pattern, "Imagine the center of this ice structure is the point the journy starts. Each branch represents a possible even, and each branch can be extentended out by making it the point of origin for each day on the journey. Only time will tell which branch is taken, and what even the branch represents. Any number of them could be good or bad outcomes."

"Exactly.  But for her exactly, even more paths open up.  She was meant to take several paths in her life, so several have been shown to her.  How could you be certain about her choice?" she sighed and smiled.  "I will not argue with you.  How you wish to spend your life is your choice, but seeing you unhappy will make her sad.  Call on me when you need me." she said as she disappeared.

"This should wake her up," Mayumi said, slowly pouring a clear fluid into Goldenscale's mouth, "Just need to give her a minute to proscess it."

"Making her way through the forest, Ahnah arived at Mayumi's home to find Tieral and Ricken waiting outside. "Has there been any progress in Goldenscale's healing," she asked, sitting down beside Ricken.

Goldenscale immediately began to cough.  She wasn't prepared at all for it.  She curledher wings around her as she coughed.  "Why did you have to dot that...  I haven't slept in so long..." she said before starting another coughing fit.  Her body was not reacting well to not getting enough sleep.  At least she was better off now than she was minutes ago.

"I think that was out cue..." he said quietly.  He then knocked on the door.  "Permission to enter, Miss?" he asked.

"If you can manage getting through the barrier, be my guest," Mayumi said, before turning back to Goldenscale, "Alright, take ddep breaths. The potion I just gave you gives the body the same effects as a full night's sleep, you'll just have to give it a moment. Tieral, Ahnah, and some self proclaimed former rogue are here to see you."

Goldenscale tried to take a couple sdep breaths, but she had to cough a couple times in between.  She finally just laid back and closed her eyes, finally getting her persistent cough to settle down.

Ricken went through the barrier, also disliking the liquid feel.  He then went over to Goldenscale.  "I'm glad you're alright." he said, sitting next to her.

There was a small concentration of heat in Goldenscale's chest and energy began to course through her.

"It is a great relief knowing you're OK," Ahnah said, sitting beside Mayumi and wrapping her tail around her feet.

"Tieral remain silent as he took his place at Goldenscale's side.

Frost tubs the back of his neck. "Thank you."

"What happened exactly?  Everything went fuzzy for a bit..." she asked, finally sitting up when she felt strength course through her body.  She rubbed her eyes a bit.

You and I went straight to the rogue camp and finished them off. You also got to see a side of me I'd rather not be around you as," Tieral said, placing the black crystal on the floor, " I'm not sure what became of Shade do to the nature of necromancers, but she's gone for now. Ahnah brought you here to have Mayumi remove the arrows that had managed to hit you."