Let It Go Free.

[Your Mom~]

Youichi was gone, Maddie was in her room, Olesya was left to her own devices following the complete breakdown between herself and David. She stood in the entryway of her room, looking it over with her kaleidoscope eyes. A couple items of clothing were on the floor, the top of her dresser and desk had a couple papers on it, stacked neatly. Her bed was made; she hadn’t slept in it in days. The corners of her mouth tugged downward as she replayed everything in her head. David was kicking her out. He may not have said it, but that was how she had interpreted it. He didn’t just love her, Olesya wouldn’t accept it, David wouldn’t accept her. She hadn’t planned on staying here in the first place; the thought hadn’t crossed her mind when she walked through the gates when she returned from the halfway house. He had invited her in. He had let her stay. But it was his place, and she didn’t have the right to it.

I guess everything has its expiration date.

Les grabbed the duffel bag from her closet, setting it on the bed. A couple tank tops, some leggings, jeans, underwear. The papers, a couple small tokens she’d collected, including the Dragon medallion Matt has given her back in Crow Territory to allow her safe passage. She left everything as she’d found it. David’s Jacket and the Skyforce Jacket sat folded on her bed next to her bag. Should she take them? Or did she have as much right to these gifts as she did to this house?

She zipped up the bag, slinging it over her shoulder and picking up the folded garments. She left her room…no, the room, and entered the living room. She dropped her bag by the door, looking down at the jackets in her hands, which shook slightly.

Making up her mind, Olesya took a deep breath before walking into David’s room. She set the jackets on the bedside table as she carefully made his bed. She tucked in all the corners and fluffed the pillows. On the nicely made bed, she placed the jackets. On the jackets she placed a note.

David,

Maddie only took half her things as I assume you still want to see her. If I’m wrong, I apologize and can arrange to retrieve the rest of her belongings. I wasn’t going to leave her alone in the house while you were gone, and I still vow to fulfill my promise in adopting her. She is my daughter and always will be, but I am not heartless enough to take her from you without your consent.

These jackets were a gift, something I feel I’m not privileged to anymore. They served me well, and return them as a sign of respect for your belongings and generosity. I never meant to overstay my welcome, nor did I intend to help myself to something that shouldn’t have been mine. This is your house, and I am sorry that I disrespected that boundary.

I never wanted it to end this way, you and Maddie are the only family I have left. They say that if you love something, let it go free. If it doesn’t come back, it was never meant to be yours. If it does, love it forever. I’m letting you free, David. If you choose her, I sincerely hope she treats you well, and gives you the things I was never able to.

Love,

Olesya

When he returned, he would find the spare room neatly made and barren of any personal artifacts. The dishes were clean and put away. There were no toys on the floor. His room was untouched with exception to his bed. Maddie’s bedroom door was closed. Inside, her bed was made and her remaining toys put away. There were still some clothes in the dresser. The Earthen unicorn was gone.

Across town, in the neighborhood near the café, there was a small, two bedroom house that had been recently vacated as two families merged into a larger house in the neighborhood. It was mostly furnished, and some of the soldiers assisted the Voice with furnishing her home and moving things in for herself and her ward. It was a relatively quick process as they both only had one bag’s worth of personal belongings, but Olesya couldn’t help but feel like something was missing.

----

OOC: Temporarily -Blazing Legends and -Skyforce Jacket. Will reflect stats later.

[David B.]

The door blasted open, tearing from its hinges. David stood in the doorway, covered in blood. It dripped from his chin, his teeth were colored with it. A cut above his left eye was oozing, but also covered in dust. A knife handle protruded from his right leg, ignored. He was bare chested, and in his hands were his weights. He threw them off to the side as he entered, crushing his living room table. August and Youichi were behind him, looking worried. They said nothing, for the moment.

Moving from his face to his chest, several more wounds were noticeable. An arrow from his left peck was also dropping blood. He had a cut on his abdomen, from his bottom left rib to his right hip bone. He appeared to have been fighting for days. A thin slice was on his right shoulder, trailing down over his bicep and terminating at the crook of his elbow. His left arm had four cuts, and all led to his hands.

His hands were covered in blood so thick you couldn't tell the color of his skin under them. His knuckles were large, swilled objects, broken and smashed and purple. They were stone still, dripping onto the floor.

He stepped across the threshold with a clang, walking for the back room. He had only asked the two behind him one question- 'are they gone?' And that was the reason he was there. He was barefoot, and every step he took left a dust red print. He walked for the back room, clanking with each step, opening the door to his room and finding the jackets with his eyes. He stared at them a long time.

"David....you need to see a doctor. Your wounds are severe. Can you hear me? DAVID! Do you want to die? Come with me now or-"

He turned and pointed a finger at August, Youichi crying out as a torrent of wind lifted the man from his feet and carried him at violent speeds down the hall. He couldn't even cry out as he flew. Through the living room and kitchen and out the front door, which closed and locked with a slam. Youichi looked back at David with wide eyes, But David was already facing his bed. He picked up the letter, and read it over. She told him what he had guessed when he flew away- that they were over. Olesya left him. He wondered how she could think it was what he wanted- she was the one who said he didn't love her. She was the one who wanted to leave. He brought his hands to his sides, the letter in his right hand. It fell to the floor gently.

Youichi opened her mouth to speak, but his soft voice cut her off.

"Return the jacket to her, but remove my name from the stitching. Put hers in its place."

Youichi stared, then slowly moved and took both jackets. She looked at David a moment, before daring to speak.

"David....where were you?"

He turned toward her, and for the first she understood why he was clanging. Around his neck were more dog tags than she had ever seen . Hundreds. They all had Barkers symbol on them. His spoke one word in that same, calm voice.

"Killing."

She stared a few moments, wide eyed, before turning and walking from the house.

OOC: "Blazing Legends" is now altered to "Legacy Jacket" with her name on the back. Stats and powers remain the same. Olesya will get these delivered to her momentarily.

[Your Mom~]

-A Couple Days Later-

Olesya was sweeping the kitchen of her new abode when a knock sounded at the door. Les froze, her heart jumping into her throat like it had been since he left. Was it him? Had he come back? She leaned the broom against the wall, dusting off her hands and walking to the door, trying to steady herself.

"Oh! Youichi."

She exclaimed, still surprised, but for a different reason. Les hadn't seen Youichi since the day...since that day. Youichi was frowning slightly, and she had some garments carefully folded in her hands. Youichi looked down at them and then back at Olesya.

"Can I come in?"

"Yes! Yes, of course."

Where were her manners? Needless to say, Olesya's nerves had been fried since her blowout with David. Every set of footsteps around the corner, every knock at the door, but she still hadn't seen him since the day he left. It was like waiting for a train she feared would never come again.

She led Youichi into the house, stopping by the kitchen to grab two cups of coffee. She looked to the dark haired woman, flicking her eyes upstairs before looking back at her.

"Let's go sit outside." because Maddie is upstairs and walls are thin.

Youichi nodded and the two of them went out the back door to the small porch that came with the house. There were two wicker chairs and a side table between them. She placed Youichi's coffee on the table and kept her own in her hands, taking a seat.

"Not that it isn't nice to see you, but I'm assuming you're here for a reason."

"You got it...here, these are for you."

She held out the folded garments to Olesya, who set down her coffee without taking a sip to accept them. They looked and felt suspiciously like the jackets she left at David's.

"He's back."

Les concluded, to which Youichi nodded. Olesya moved to set them aside, but Youichi reached a hand out, her palm flat in a 'no' type of gesture.

"You need to look at his jacket."

Olesya quirked an eyebrow at the dark haired woman, rather confused. She picked up the top jacket, the white Blazing Legends that she knew had his name on the back. As she unfolded it and took a look, her mouth fell open.

"Your jacket."

Across the shoulder blades where 'Blaze' had been embroidered in flames, the flames now read 'Olesya.' Her breath caught in her throat, and her chest began to burn as she stared at it, unbelieving. Her hands fell to her lap, the flame letters still clearly visable.

"But...why?"

Youichi shrugged, taking her coffee from the table and sipping on it.

"His orders. Les...David isn't doing well."

The assassin frowned, and Olesya could hear the concern in her voice. For the third time today, Olesya's heart jumped into her throat, and she feared it might just leap out of her body entirely. She didn't say anything, just stared at Youichi until she continued.

"He came home covered in blood. He went on a killing spree, collecting dog tags of Barker's men, wearing them like some kind of trophy. He doesn't sleep, I haven't seen him eat. ...He's a wreck."

Olesya chewed the inside of her lip, carressing the fabric of the jacket. Mixed emotions flowed through her, and she didn't know which to act on.

"I don't know how much he's told you. But he basically told me that there was another girl that he grew very close to, and that he couldn't help his feelings for her. I don't know who she is, or what they've done, but I couldn't handle loving someone who couldn't love me exclusively."

The dejected look in her eyes spoke volumes about her lingering feelings for him. It had only been a few days, and Olesya had known him for years. She had served him as his Varsity Captain, fought beside him, fought with him, and served him as his Voice. She didn't know when exactly she had fallen in love with him, it just sort of snuck up on her unexpectedly.

"You say that he saved you...did you ever think that maybe you saved him too?"

Youichi's words broke Olesya from her train of thought, and her expression turned cold as her defenses went up.

"He made his choice, Youichi. Just because you love someone doesn't mean you can make them love you back."

She stood up and walked back into the house, closing the door behind her.

[David B.]

-At the time of Youichi and Olesya talking-

David's eyes snapped open, the Storm Dragon sitting up in bed and taking a deep breath. He'd just come back from Mitsuki's house the night before, where the girl had fixed him up and talked with him a bit. While the conversation had been good, it didn't change things for him. He stared at the wall a bit, the covers cast off to the side. He was sleeping in his boxers, his sweat soaked chest cooled by the breeze that moved through the open window. He reached up, scratching the scruff that had begun to grow on his face. Throwing his legs off the side of the bed, he winced at the pain in his leg, but the wrap held, and Mitsuki's stiches kept the wound from bleeding. He had bandages pretty much everywhere, now- his entire torso was bandaged. His left arm was wrapped, half his right arm, even his hands.

He sighed, looking down at them and flexing. On his wall, a new shelf sat, and a pile of dog tags rested on them. He glanced at them to make sure they were still present, before heading into his walk-in closet and grabbing his clothes. It was a struggle, what with all the medical things strapped to his body, but he within moments he was dressed. As he bent, grabbing his sword, a knock came to the door, perking his ears. He sniffed a moment, hope twisting in his chest, before it withered as he recognized the smell.

August.

He opened the door, looking at the red haired male who stood outside. The man stared at him, hard, before David sighed and walked away from the door, leaving it open and thus, signalling he could come in.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?"

The mans voice was cross, irritable, as it had been since he'd thrown him from his house unceremoniously.

"Nine-Thirty."

He was walking around the counter toward the fridge before August came around the island in the kitchen, continuing to speak with frustration.

"Yeah. The War council is convening. Time to put on your big boy pants and come back to work."

David eyed him a moment, before opening the fridge and taking out the bottle of apple-juice that was sitting on the shelf inside the door. He popped the cap and took a long drink from the jug as August continued.

"David- you can't just sit in here and wallow in self pity. We have work to do. Barker-"

David cut him off as he was putting the juice away.

"Oh, Barker is it? Working to kill Barker? Planning to bring down the big man by having budget meetings regarding tomatoes and livestock? I'm sure he's shaking in his boots just knowing your about to have a meeting about him."

August stared, his cheeks growing slightly pink at Davids mockery.

"David...You have to come back."

David took out a pan from under the stove, setting it on the burner and letting the head pick up as he rubbed the wound at his shoulder.

"No, I really don't. Tell ya what- How about you run the dragons in my stead. Or better yet, go ask Leon or Mathew to get off their all important asses and do it. I'm done."

He opened the carton he had just removed from the fridge and pulled an egg from in. August stepped aggressively forward, prepared to-

"Don't, August. I don't want to hurt you, and you know damn well you can't take me. Just walk away."

August paused and clenched his fists before turning and moving for the door. He stopped, looking back over his shoulder at the hunched form of the Storm Dragon, cracking eggs and pitting them into the pan with a lovely hiss.

"I never took you for a Coward, David."

August shut the door as he left, Davids hand shaking with the next egg for just a moment before he took a breath and steadied it. Cracking the egg, it plopped next to it's compadre, and sizzled nicely.

----August----

He stood outside the door a moment, shaking his head. He had come to love David as a brother, but his brother wouldn't have him. He didn't know who he could go to... he took a deep breath before running toward the rail and jumping, taking to the sky on his way toward Olesya, and Youichi.

[Your Mom~]

Youichi huffed, shaking her head. This was like Crow territory all over again! Couldn't these two idiots just realize they were meant for each other and get it over with? She was just about to leave when August landed, a stern look on his face. Youichi frowned, she guessed that talking to David didn't go well either.

"I'm guessing that went well?"

"Perfectly." He said sarcastically. "She inside?"

"Yeah, practically slammed the door in my face."

"This bullshit needs to stop."

August moved forward, opening the back door to the house and storming in. He'd had enough with both of their petty whining, and he knew he could at least convince Olesya to do some damn work around here. Barker's advnaces didn't stop for a broken heart.

"Olesya!"

"Jesus, August. Knock much?"

The Voice came down the stairs, having put the folded jackets on her bed. She didn't want to wear them just yet. She looked at him quizzically, her eyes flicking to Youichi who waslked in behind him.

"David's...indisposed. We need you at the War Council in his place."

Olesya sighed, rolling her shoulders. Since David left in a huff, she'd been taking on more and more responsiblity as the Storm Dragon's Voice. Now that he was back, she assumed he would take some of it back, but apparently that wasn't the case.

"Alright fine. Youichi, can you watch Maddie? I hate to put you on babysitter duty...maybe I should find an actual babysitter..."

"I don't mind. As long as you don't mind a mini-assassin apprentice running around your house."

Olesya snorted, shaking her head. Her lips turned up into a shadow of a smirk. Maddie needed to be taught self defense anyway. It was like killing two birds with one stone.

"As long as my house stays in one piece, have at it."

She waved, and August and Olesya left for the council meeting.

[David B.]

David stood, staring out the window, a blanket draped over his shoulders. He held a cup of warm tea in his hands, and sipped from it every couple of moments. August would be dead into the meeting now. David turned, walking over and setting the cup next to his plate, where two eggs set prepped to eat. They were cold, and untouched. He walked into his bedroom, stuffing his bag and zipping the top.

He threw the bag over his shoulder and walked from the room. In a satchel he held in his left hand were his dog tags, clanging lightly as he strode through the kitchen, setting it on the couter. He took the plate and scraped its contents into the garbage. He cleaned it in the sink and stuck it back in the cupboard, his hand lingering there a moment. He looked over the cups, the dishes...gently, he closed the door. Turning around, he grabbed the satchel and headed for the door, flicking off lights along the way.

Standing in the door frame, he looked back into the house, at the darkness, for one long minute. He closed the door tightly on his way out, grabbing the plaque next to the door that said "Storm Dragon". He tossed it in the trash on the corner as he moved, making his way along the path he felt August and Youichi go on. Within fifteen minutes, he was there. Her new house. He strode up and Knocked. If she was there... He would say goodbye. That despite what she may think, he loved her. But as her own letter said- he must let her go free.

Youichi answered.

The breath ran out of him in a rush as she stared at him, looking him over. She offered him to come inside- to which he accepted gladly. Maddie was in the kitchen, eating, when he walked in. The girl cried out with a loud squeal, pushing out from the table and rushing over to give him a hug. He wrapped his arms around her, cracking the first genuine smile in several days.

"David-! Have you come to live with us?"

David took a deep breath.

"No, little one. I came to say goodbye. I'm...going away for a while."

Maddie stared, smile withering, before taking a half step back.

David removed the necklace from around his neck, holding it out to her. The child's small hands wrapped around it as tears filled her eyes, David watching her with a deep, painful glare running along his chest.

"Maddie... This is "Storm Call", my necklace. It's special. You see- if ever your in trouble, or need me- you just hold it tight and think of me, then say a simple word into the sky as loud as you can. Here- I wrote it down for you. Try to memorize it."

The little girl took the note, but ran to hold David- now letting the tears fall.

"David.... I don't want you to gooo.... Please don't....please-!"

He hugged her tight, tears now forming in his eyes. He forced them back.

"I...have to, Maddie. And I'll visit you when I can... Be good for Olesya, and Youichi. I love you. With all my heart."

Maddie stepped away, crying, before turning and running for the back room, clasping the necklace but dropping the paper. David wiped an eye with his thumb before picking it up and handing it to Youichi.

"See that Maddie memorizes this."

Youichi nodded.

"Where...will you go?"

David turned and looked Youichi in the eye before bending and giving her a light kiss on the cheek, causing her to blush only a little.

"Take care of them for me."

He turned and walked out the door.

Youichi looked down at the paper she held, unfolding it and reading aloud, softly, the word written there.

"Vydran..."

She looked out the window, sadness pulling at her, as David's form trudged into the distance- to the north.

/Davids exit

[Your Mom~]

"-And that's why we're better off pushing to the East as opposed to trying to attack Barker directly. If you look at this chart-"

Olesya had her elbow on the table and her chin in her palm, blinking away the boredom. They'd brought in an old retired general for his opinion on their army's movement and advancement. What they had hoped for was professional expertise. What they hadn't expected was a rambling windbag who took twenty minutes to say he thought they should move East as opposed to South. August sat next to her, doodling in his notebook. He had started taking notes, but as the meeting dragged on, he devolved to drawing stick figures of their honored guest dying in creative ways. Falling off a cliff, rabid dog attack, rogue hot air balloon...

Three hours later, they finally adjourned. Les pushed back from the table, eagerly climbing to her feet and stretching her arms over her head. She nudged August's foot with her own, as he had dozed of some forty minutes prior. He snorted, breathing in sharply mid-snore and lifted his head, climbing to his feet drowsily.

"It over yet? What'd I miss?"

"He spent the last hour explaining formations of troops in regards to air current and cloud position..."

The white haired woman rolled her eyes, making the red haired man chuckle. They walked out of the war room and into the street, heading back for Olesya's house. She'd almost automatically turned to head toward her old place...David's place, but she didn't have the courage to face him just yet.

When they arrived at the house, something felt off. Les opened the door and instead of an excited, squealing ten-year-old bouncing up to meet her, she heard quiet little sobs. Olesya's heart jumped into her throat as her gaze bounced around, locating the source of the sound. She dropped her bag and ran into the living room, stopping short as she saw Youichi sitting on the couch, Maddie's head was in her lap and she was crying. Youichi looked a bit awkward, patting the girl's head soothingly.

"Maddie?"

Olesya asked softly. At the sound of her voice, Maddie looked up with a gasp, falling into a fresh bout of sobs as she bolted out of Youichi's lap and into Olesya's arms. Les bent down to wrap Maddie in her arms, instantly alarms.

"Hunny, what's wrong?"

"He'sgonehe'sgonehe'sgone...!!"

"Calm down, sweetheart, I can't understand you. Tell me what happened."

She looked up to Youichi, who returned her gaze solemnly. She was about to ask the caretaker what had happened but Maddie sniffled, speaking again a bit slower and more clearly.

"David's gone. He left again! He must be mad at me and I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I want him to come baaaaack!"

The girl dissolved into another bout of sobs, her whole little body shaking. Olesya glowered, both disappointed and shocked, but more whelmed with a sense of maternal anger that Maddie was hurting so much. This battle was between David and herself. Maddie was an unnecessary casualty in all this. She'd make him hurt for hurting her ward, her own emotions be damned. This just wasn't about them anymore.

"Shh...shhh...It's going to be alright, Maddie bear. Don't cry. David will be back even if it's in a box"

Olesya stayed until Maddie fell asleep. It was late afternoon, but the poor girl was so exhausted from crying that she fell right to sleep. She let her sleep in Olesya's bed for comfort. Taking one last look at the girl with a sad smile, she gently closed the bedroom door. She went to her room across the hall, packed her backpack and grabbed the coats from where she'd left them on her bed this morning. She went down the stairs to where August and Youichi were having coffee in the kitchen, talking in low voices.

"You're leaving too?"

"I've got to go find his stupid ass."

"Good luck with that."

August said, not convinced. He knew how stubborn David was, and thought Olesya would have better luck telling the tides to stand still.

"Do you even know where to look?"

"I'll ask Doc, and the guards. Someone had to have seen him leave."

"That's true."

"If I don't find him by sundown, I'll be back. It'll be impossible to find him in the dark."

"Be careful."

Olesya smirked at August, adjusting the bandana on her head to hide her stark white hair.

"Always."

Just as she was about to leave, Youchi stood up, the chair scraping back across the tile floor. Les froze even before the 'wait!' left her mouth. She turned back, and Youichi fished in her pocket before producing a piece of paper. It was small and had one word on it. 'Father.' in Dragonspeak. Olesya didn't even need to recognize his handwriting to kn ow who it was from.

"Why..what is this?"

"He left it with Maddie, with a medallion. Said to use it if she needed him."

"Where is it?"

"Still in the livingroom, I think."

Olesya walked into the living room, picking up the medallion from the coffee table. After turning it over in her hands, she slipped it in her pocket. Under Youichi and August's care, Maddie wouldn't need it for the short time Olesya would be gone.

"Might come in handy."

"Just hold the medallion and whisper the word."

"Got it...thank you."

And with that, she left after the rogue Storm Dragon.

Doc knew nothing about David's whereabouts, but provided a couple of his vials in case she saw him. Chances were he'd left without them, or without a decent supply, at any rate. One of the guards had seen him take off to the North. Kicking off from the ground, Olesya took to the air. It was faster than walking or taking her motor bike, and probably the way David had gone as well. He was a much faster flyer than her, being the Storm Dragon and all, but it was worth a shot.

[David B.]

(Dynamic re-entry?)

Surprisingly, David wasn't flying.

He was on the ground, jogging, duffle still over his shoulder. As much as he wanted to take to the skies, he knew that anyone who saw him flying overhead would point and be able to say 'there goes the Storm Dragon'. This way, the neutral territories may not recognize him, and he could keep as low a profile as possible. He took a right, then a left- the buildings were a blur, but getting taller, and he had been at this pace for what seemed like hours. Around the next block, he paused a d darted back, the sounds of a sizeable Barker patrol digging in down the next street. Had he already crossed into Barkers territory again? He took several deep breaths, placing a hand over the wound on his shoulder and wincing.

Damn things were slowing him down.

He started walking back the other way as the patrol got closer, opening the side door to the bar whose wall he had been hugging and stepping inside. Nobody was there- it seemed to have been abandoned after the fall. Perfect. He began undoing his bandages carefully, redressing them as the thundering sounds of footsteps went by. This far north he didn't have quite as many contacts- barkers soldiers roamed in packs of two hundred or more.

After redressing his wounds, he reached into his bag and grabbed a ski mask, pulling it on over his head. Drawing his sword, he left everything else in the bar, and walked out the door- sneaking, sneaking, making way toward the rear of the column.

The didnt notice him until the first man lost his leg, the second an arm, and four more heads. Blood sheared through the air, and screams broke the repetitive melancholy of their footsteps.

Retribution.

For everything you have taken from me.

[Your Mom~]

[NOTE!! Sooo on the way home from the meeting....THIS TOTALLY HAPPENED...Yeah...]

-----

Olesya flew for over an hour, ignoring the icy air as it stung her face. It was a decent summer evening, but up here in the clouds at such a speed, it was mildly uncomfortable. Sharp kaleidoscope eyes scanned the sky and ground in front of her, looking for any sign of the Storm Dragon. For all she knew, he could be hundreds of miles away in any direction. Just because the guard saw him go North doesn't mean that he went that direction exclusively.

Tiring, as that was the farthest she'd flown at one time, Olesya lighted on the roof of an old building on the outskirts of a city. Her legs felt like jelly, and she sat down on the edge of the building, letting her legs hang over the side. She placed her hands flat on the cement, rolling her neck in gentle circles to work out her tense muscles.

She felt the weight of the medallion in her pocket. She could call him, instantly, if she wanted to. But did she want to? Olesya was afraid of what she'd find when he arrived. Would he be livid that she took Maddie's medallion? Still angry with her? Cold and reserved? Or..what if he recognized her voice and didn't come at all? But then again, why would he leave the medallion with Maddie if he didn't want to be found? Did he expect Maddie to hide it from Olesya? Be their little secret? The trigger word...he had chosen it specifically. From everything she'd heard from August, Youichi, Kiyr, Maddie...she just couldn't believe that he wanted to up and leave without a word. But why was he giving up?

Her head started to ache from all the thinking.

[David B.]

A cool afternoon breeze picked up, throwing dust into the air. It crawled along the earth, kissing the bodies that rested so peacefully there. For nearly two square blocks, wreckage was constant. Buildings were torn up, cars flipped over. Smoke trails lifted into the sky. The stink of blood and sweat and death was overwhelming. He stood in the center, hands slicked red. At his feet was a pile of dog tags, collected from each soldier whose life slipped through his fingers.

'One hundred eighty one. Not enough.'

He scooped up the massive pile and began to walk, the chill running down his spine, letting him Know he had a few precious moments before the adrenaline wore off, and he was stuck with the pain of his injuries again. His footsteps were the only ones he heard or felt- which was good. That smoke was high enough to be seen for miles, and he needed to be gone before more showed up in far greater numbers.

Reaching his bar in short order, he moved inside the door, pulling the mask off over his head and letting it drop, before plopping the dog tags into the bag with the rest. He swiftly changed his clothes after washing his hands, trying to stay focused on finding a new place.

August and Olesya would be out, by now.

Would they come for him? Or just let him slip?

He shook the thoughts from his head.

What did it Matter? He was leaving. And there was nothing either could say to bring him back. He zipped up the bag, lifting it and his satchel of tags easily as he headed out the opposite door, moving through the alley to a street a block over. He stepped out, kept his head low, and started back north, angling just a little ways east.

Toward his new home.

And hunting grounds.

[Your Mom~]

Olesya pulled the medallion from her pocket, turning it over and over in her hands. This simple gesture spoke volumes. He loved Maddie, that was for certain. He still wantes to be there for her despite whatever it was he was doing now...despite whatever it was they were doing to each other. But what did that say about how he felt about her? Leaving without saying goodbye...was he trying to give her space or write her off?

Should she just let him go?

She gripped the medallion tightly. No. If he wanted to go, then she knew she couldnt stop him. She did, however, have the right to say goodbye. Olesya raised the medallion to her lips, her breath leaving a light puff of fog on the cool metal as she whispered:

Vydran...

[David B.]

David breathed deep, eyes looking to the top of the hill surrounding eighth street. It was steep, surrounded in residential houses. The city was far behind him, its skyline standing out across the sky. Sweat dripped from his chin as he stared at it, for a few moments. Using the back of his hand, he brushed his forehead, wiping it off on his pant leg before he sniffed a bit. He had spent so long in the city- he needed time away. He was ready to return to his roots, to see tall pines and little rivers. Mountains that kissed the sky. He thought of Olesya, closing his eyes, remembering her smell. What it was like to look over, and see her sitting next to him, legs on his lap, white hair covering one side of her face. Of hearing her and Maddie-

Vydran.

He stopped. The tingle of air that passed his ear told him in was spoken almost in a whisper. He couldn't tell who spoke it. Maddie? Would she, so soon? Perhaps if there was an emergency....he half turned back, eyes on the city. He was too far away to catch a smell, and it was too soft to understand the sound thread that tied it to the person. He glanced to the ground, trying to sort out who it was. He took a deep breath and marched into the nearest house, which happened to be for sale, though run down. He stashed his bag in the drier with his medals, before moving outside and taking to the sky, rocketing first straight up, gaining vast heights, before moving toward the city, and lowering himself slowly Bove the locating, staying in the light of the sun, where it would hurt to look.

Her smell hit him before he saw her.

Olesya.

His eyes slid closed as a fist gripped his heart. She... He stopped in the air, trying to sort it out. And tightness came over him, a strange nervousness that made his palms sweat and knees shake. He steadied himself. He was the storm dragon. One of the eldest dragons alive. He had fought so many he lost count. One of the...strongest.... Yet she made him feel as a child.

"Hi."

He spoke from behind her, having landed silently, like a ghost. His hands were in his pockets, and he wore just a plain, white tshirt, blue Cargo shorts hanging just past his knees. Around his neck was his medallion- none of his other items were present, though. He stared, drinking in her face greedily, waiting a moment before-

"I hope you will give that back to her."

'To my daughter...'

[Your Mom~]

Olesya felt the shift of air as David landed silently behind her. She didn't move until he spoke though, the medallion still pressed lightly to her lips. At the single syllable, she turned to face him, her hand falling to her side, the chain swinging slightly from her hand.

"I hope you will give that back to her."

Olesya's heart dropped. Firstly because he made it clear that the medallion had been for Maddie and not for her. Secondly, that he would even assume that she wouldn't give it back to her without him telling her to. Seeing him, hearing his voice, it just wrenched the wounds open again. How had they managed to hurt each other so much in just one fight?

She ignored his inquiry, it went without saying.

"You're leaving."

It wasn't a question. She felt the familiar sense of abandonment well up in her stomach. It was a sickening feeling that she had felt too many times when it came to David. He had promised he wouldn't leave her again. He had promised...

"Maddie cried for hours, even after I got home. She thinks it's her fault even though I assured her it wasn't."

Did he realize how much leaving hurt them? Not just Olesya, but Maddie? Only a few weeks prior, he had considered adopting her. They had been happy, and now this.

[David B.]

David said nothing, for a moment, after she stated he was leaving. It wasnt a question, and the answer was obvious. After she said Maddie cried for hours, he looked down at his shoes, moving a rock with them gently. He wasnt sure how to proceed- he didn't want to fight with her, not again. He wanted this meeting...to at least be a good one. He took a deep breath, then turned and pointed outside the city, toward the direction he had come from.

"I'm going on vacation for three weeks, off that way and then northeast to the dakotas. Would it make you feel better to know where I am when I get back? Truth be told, would you actually visit? Or would you tell others like August, Youichi or Kazuya where I am so they can try and force me back? "

He turned his eyes back to her, letting his arm drop.

". I...dont want to see anyone. But I gave you my word I wouldn't abandon you again...if you ask me where I'll be, I will tell you. As for Maddie....im sorry about her. I love her like shes my own. But I don't think it would be right to..."

He trailed off, his lips coming together slowly as he watched her. Trying to...figure her out. What she wanted, what he could do. In the end, he decided to do nothing. He had already done too much, and she thought he...he didnt love her, thought he had lied. He was worried, in truth, that she might be right, at least about the lying. And if the one thing in his life he thought he would never lose didnt want him...

"I don't know what else to say."

[Your Mom~]

Olesya listened to him talk, letting him get it all out before responding. She'd made a mistake in not listening to him before, she wasn't going to make that mistake again. She thought back to the conversation she'd had with Kiyr earlier. At the time she felt it had been out of left field, but now as she stood here in front of him, it all made sense. David's love was a gift, and even though his love was torn, it didn't mean hers had to be. He had gotten through to her heart of a reason, she wasn't about to rip him out of it...it would destroy them both. And more than that, it would destroy Maddie.

"Three weeks. You could have told me, you know. From what Maddie was telling me, she was under the impression you were leaving for good."

She said, disappointment clear in her voice. She didn't want to cause another fight, but she wasn't going to take this lying down.

"You can go, I'm not going to stop you. And if you don't want August or Youichi to know, I won't tell them either. I will tell Maddie that you plan to be back in three weeks, so she can smile again. I told her you would be back, but at the time I was calling your bluff. I'm glad I was right."

She crossed her arms over her stomach, looking away from him.

"Just, come home in one piece alright? You already look roughed up."