Finding some courage, Lovell ventured off in hopes that he could find a way to combat the darkness within his heart. Letting his feet take him where ever the wind took him, hours pa.s.sed as night fell Lovell notice a small shack. Feeling a chill in the air, Lovell warmed himself a bit before heading over. As he touched the door, a sharp pain ran through his body. Collapsing in the doorway, Lovell began to lose consciousness, trying to force himself to stay awake. Lovell fell into a deep sleep.

Lovell's eye slowly opened, a hand placed a cloth over his forehead. Not sure what just happened, the person walked away as Lovell tried to set himself up. The person rushed over. "Don't get up to quickly; you have a fever. Rest for now." Lovell was able to see it was a young wolf beastman woman. Her grey fur seemed familiar to him but couldn't figure out where he had seen it. She laid him back down, as she did Lovell could smell her sent. It seemed soothing and familiar as well. Lovell was pa.s.sing out once more before he could say anything.

Lovell woke once more this time she was not around to help. Lovell sat himself up as he looked around, he noticed that the place he was in was the same cabin as before. The woman opened the door, saw Lovell was up. "How do you feel?" Her smile warming.

Lovell looked over, "I feel much better… umm…?"

"Ulva."

Lovell shook his head, "well thank you Ulva for helping me but I must be…" the words seemed to leave Lovell's mind as Ulva sat beside him. Her hand was checking its temperature. "Um, Ulva?"

Ulva smiled as she got up. "I'll make some food you, just rest. You still have a darkness fever."

Lovell turned to her, "Darkness fever? Never heard of it?" Confused by what she said. "what is a Darkness fever?"

Ulva plucked some herbs as she started to prepare some food. "It's a soul fever where dark thoughts and clouded minds attack a pure soul," She began chopping some ingredients away. "by tempting it with dark pleasures before taking hold of them."

Lovell sat back in the bed, "So, I'm being tempted to turn evil in a sense." Lovell looked at his hands, remembering the vision that Flora had shown him. "So, why save me Ulva?" Turning his head to her, Ulva continued what she was doing. "Ok, don't answer me then?"

Lovell turned away, Ulva stopped for a moment. "Because Lady Lunatica needs you to stop him." Lovell whipped his head at her. "Surprised I knew, Lovell Queasy Krisnik?"

Lovell stared at her. "How did you know who I am?" Ulva chuckled at him as she continued. "Ulva, who are you, really?"

Ulva finished what she was doing. "That is for you to discover little wolf." Her smile misleading, Lovell sat back as he knew he wouldn't get more out of her. "now eat, you need you'll strength to fight your inner darkness." Handing him a bowl of soup, Lovell grabbed it thanking her for the food. She sat at the small table. "Now Lovell, what is it you think is good and evil as a whole?"

Lovell breathed on the soup before eating it, "Well good is where….no, wait the evil is…?" confused by Ulva question, Lovell couldn't find the answer.

Ulva turned to Lovell her tail swaying in excitement. "Oh, well, lets put it this way then." Lovell looked over at her. "If a person helps another by giving them lots of money, and then invites that person they helped over are they a good person?"

Lovell gripped his chin before looking over at her, "Yes, they are, they are helping them."

Ulva busted out laughing, Lovell became confused. Ulva collected herself, "Yes and no, ask yourself what underlining reason does this supposed good person have to gain by helping him way too much?" Lovell tried thinking on it, "The good person was b.u.t.tering them up to harm them later. See the person is trying to win false trust, and most people fall for it. It's just how darkness works. Sometimes a good thing is a bad thing, and a bad thing is a good thing." Lovell stared at the food, "Kind of like you vision right?" Lovell turned to her. "Yup, you thought you were doing the right thing, and, in the end, you caused a tremendous amount of pain in your heart, allowing the darkness fever to settle in." She pointed at Lovell's chest.

Lovell gripped his chest. "So, how do I get rid of this darkness?" His eyes filled with fear and regret.

Ulva stood up. "Finish eating and rest for now. We'll talk more once your strength has returned more." Rustling his hair. "OK?!" Lovell looked up at her, Ulva was smile was reinsuring as he nodded, "Good, now eat and rest. Doc's orders!" Lovell finished his food, handing Ulva the bowl as he laid back down to rest.

The next day Lovell woke, Ulva was gone once more. Looking around Lovell noticed a picture in the distance. Feeling stronger, Lovell sat up on the edge of the bed to get up, as he did, he felt all his physical strength vanish. Forcing him back down on the bed, all he could do was wait for Ulva to return and ask her about the photo. Moments later Ulva returned, her honey blonde hair in tangled with twigs and leaves, as she placed a basket of herbs on the counter. Lovell watched as she began to prepare what seemed to be tea.

"What is it you are making this time?" Lovell was trying to distract time.

Ulva turned to him, smiled, "Nothing more than a simple herbal tea that boosts strength." She used a spell to speed up the drying process. "Are you hungry?" As she asked, Lovell's stomach growled at the word. Lovell turned red, "I'll whip something up for you then as the tea brews."

Lovell thanked her, looking back at the photo Lovell decided not to ask her what the picture was. Instead of but out of her life. Ulva glanced out of the corner of her eye at him, and she seemed pleased by his presence. Handing him a plate of food, Lovell took it from her and began eating. His gaze was returning to the photo once more. Ulva was saying that she'll be back later to see how he was doing, Lovell nodded as she closed the door behind her. Lovell, alone once more, tried once more to stand. His legs were shaking as he stood up. He could tell that his strength was returning quite fast, though Lovell wondered if the darkness fever would ever return, like any other sicknesses. Lovell was trying to make his way to the chairs, fell his legs giving out beneath him. Lovell started to curl into a ball. Tears of fear streaming down his face, he sat sobbing in his own wallow.

Ulva returned to see him in his state, went to comfort him. "Just leave me I'll only cause you misery and your death just…" Lovell's voice was cracking, as Ulva pulled him close to her. "Just like everyone I loved or cared for did."

Lovell buried his face in Ulva's shoulder, her smell filling his nose, seemed to calm him as he fell asleep. "Poor thing, I wish I could have been there for you much more than I have been my boy." Tears began to stream down her face, holding Lovell tight to her chest. "If only you knew how much I miss you my little wolf pup if only you knew." Ulva picked Lovell up and placed him back in the bed, kissing him on his forehead before making some tea.

Hours later Lovell woke to the smell of warm food, sitting up Lovell noticed Ulva rocking by the fire. She was singing to herself. Lovell recognized the song, a lullaby about hope. Looking at the food, Lovell took the food and sat still, staring at it.

Ulva had stopped singing, looked over at Lovell. "You need your strength."

Lovell shot his gaze at her, shocked that she had noticed he was awake. "I know, ma'am." His heart heave from the pain within. "Hey, Ulva?" Ulva waked over to him, pulling a chair over, sat down beside him. "Thanks for everything."

Ulva cradled his face, "Dear, I know you're in pain but honour their lives." Ulva leaned back. "Morris would be distraught to see you in this state." She chuckled, "He probably would smack you silly till you started yelling at him like Ark." Ulva burst out into laughter.

Lovell turned to her in surprise. "You knew Morris?"

Whipping the tears from her eye's. "Yes, they were my friends at one time before…" The kettle began to whistle, "oh, I'll get you some tea, you never got any earlier." Ulva raced over to the kettle avoiding saying anything else to Lovell about her friends. Handing Lovell the tea, "Here drink up, I need to be somewhere. So, try and stay put your strength will be at ninety percent tomorrow, okay?"

Before Lovell could protest, Ulva was gone. Looking at the tea and food, Lovell sighed and wolfed the food down. Taking a sip of the drink, Lovell felt rejuvenated and feeling as if things were finally turning around. Tears were creeping out as joyed seemed to fill the pain within. Finis.h.i.+ng his tea, Lovell closed his eye's and thinking about Ark, Gale, and Lance and how they were still alive even though Morris, his birth parents and his foster mom, Maria, have left him.

'Where are you?' a voice called out.

'What do you mean I'm right here and who are you?' Lovell was answering the voice.

'Me, I'm Luna.' The voice answered.

'Luna! Wait you're here!?' Lovell yelled.

'Yes, I'm searching for you, but I can't find you anywhere. Please, guardian of light, show your self to me. Please, I'm begging you...' Luna's voice faded in the distance.

Lovell tried calling out to her, as she seemed to slip away. Lovells shot open, sweat dripping down his face, placed his hand on his forehead, "Was… was it all just a dream?" covering his mouth, as he tried to make sense of what just happened.

Ulva shoved a cup of hot tea in front of Lovell. "Drink!" Blinking back to reality, Lovell took the cup. "now what was this dream you had?" Ulva leaned in to hear what he had to say.

Lovell looked at the tea. "I'm not sure, all I know is that I was in a dark room and a voice was calling out to me."

Lovell took a sip, Ulva rested her hand under her chin. "what did the voice say because you were tossing, but you were not sleeptalking."

Lovell closed his eye's, "I-I can't remember?" confused, Lovell stared deeply into the tea. Trying to remember. "Where are you?" whispering the words under his breath.

Ulva got up, "Well I'll make something to eat, try and not to over think it, ok?" Looking at Lovell repeating the words over and over to himself, lost in his own world, Ulva smiled. "She's calling for him."

Lovell was looking up at Ulva, as the words spilled out. He didn't hear what she said but was enough to bring him back. Finis.h.i.+ng his tea Lovell tried to stand once again. This time he was able to stand on his own, joyed filling him that he could finally move, Ulva Looked back at him, his face filled with excitement smiled, proud that he was almost better.

Lovell turned to Ulva. "Hey Ulva, you said something like 'I had to fight my inner darkness,' right?" Ulva nodded as she continued to cook. "How does one exactly fight that if it's a part of themselves?"

Ulva lowered the knife in her hand, closed her eye's "By excepting it and understanding that it's ok to have those thoughts that can corrupt anyone. Even the champion of light or the destroyer of darkness." Lovell walked over to her, leaned on the counter. "Besides light and darkness is two parts of the same coin with a ridge between them larger than anyone could imagine."

Lovell confused by her words, "Ulva, what do mean by 'a ridge larger than anyone could imagine?'"

Ulva finished making the food. "well, most people think there is a fine line between good and evil but in reality, its more like a valley between two mountains, or the oceans between land ma.s.ses." Handing him a plate.

Lovell took the plate and sat at the table with her. "I think I get it?" taking a bite out his food. "Though…"

Ulva laced her fingers, "Lovell, you're the embodiment of good and evil, the light of our world and its darkness itself." Ulva reached over to Lovell's hand. "Besides you are the leader of the Ren-Ky warriors. The warriors of Lunatica herself, she made it so that each one would embody an attribute of life."

Lovell looked into Ulva's eye's "You mean I'm not her only protector?"

Ulva smiled, "Yes, the others are the Winds of Freedom, Lightning of Strength, Flames of Courage, Waters of Knowledge, Earth of Kindness and then there's you." Ulva was pointing at Lovell. "The Light and Darkness of Balance."

"The Light and Darkness of Balance?" Lovell started to think on how they were the same; he smiled "Thanks Ulva for everything, I think I understand what I should be really, be going now."

Ulva grinned, "Oh, you mean like finding a way out of your prison cell in Mourn Fortress?"

Lovell stared at Ulva, "Wait, what?"

"I think its time you returned, back to the living. I've kept you here long enough." Leaning over to Lovell, as he tried to get answers on what was going on, Ulva push him over. Lovell fell back as he seemed to fall through the floor. Ulva smiled at him, "Take care –," The words fading before he could hear them, as the world around him grew dark.

Lovell slowly regained his senses, the cold stone floor somehow refres.h.i.+ng, as he sat up. Looking around, Lovell noticed he was in a prison cell, just like Ulva said he was. Lovell sees a guard sitting a chair. "Hey, you!" Lovell called over at him; the guard looked over at him. "Where am I?"

The guard walked over; he grinned at Lovell. Lovell noticed he left the keys hanging on the wall as he walked over to him. "You are in the wonderful place of Mourn Fortress, lead by the beautiful Erin Wild, herself." The guard laughed, Lovell stepping back, trying to figure out what was going on. Leaning back against the wall, Lovell curled up as another guard brought him food. Looking at the menu, it was not what he expected, it was clean, warm and not slop. He got up to eat it, knowing he could be here for some time before he got out.

As he bent over another figure walked down the hall. "So, you are Lovell that Hunter was after." Lovell looked up to see a woman stand before him. "My name is Erin, by the way." Lovell looked over her; she playfully touched her lips. "Like what you see, boy?"

Lovell grabbed the food and walked over to the cell's bench, closing his eye's. "No, you're not my type. Besides, why would I be interested in a nynya like you?" Lovell was taking a bite out of the food.

Erin gritted her teeth, "Well, you seem to be a lot like another person I know—."

Before she could finish, a young man grabbed her shoulder, "Leave Erin or Hunter will have a fit." Erin huffed as she walked away. "Sorry for her, she always likes that, unfortunately." Lovell noticing that he wore gla.s.ses turned away. "Sorry, let me introduce myself, my name is Kyle, and you are Lovell correct?"

Lovell swallowed, "Yes, and it seems I'm popular with the Faremin army for some reason?" Staring at Kyle hungrily.

Kyle took his gla.s.ses off to clean them, "Well, my friend was ordered to kill you but also has reasons on not to kill you." Lovell stared as he put his gla.s.ses back on. "Besides I came to be some nicer company than the others." Pulling the guard's chair up as he sat down.

Lovell crossed his legs on the bench. "So, I'm wanted dead by whom exactly; Kyle was it?"

Kyle smiled, "Yes, and our king seems to want you dead… and my friend Hunter…" Kyle trailed off as he thought of his friend.

Lovell walked up to Kyle, hesitantly he touched Kyles hand, sitting down on his heels. "Is something happening between you two?"

Kyle looked into Lovell's eyes, "Well my friend is suddenly changing, he's more… emotional than he should be…"

Kyle turned away, Lovell sat down." Is it such a bad thing if Hunter--"

Kyle stood up, "Yes, it is. Hunter is the best of the best and to be troubled by simple emotions like…"

Tears ran down Kyle's face, Lovell stood up, feeling like he was in a mirrored world of unknowns, closed his eyes. "Light can be darkness and darkness can be light." Kyle looked, Lovell, as he went back to the bench. Confused about Lovell's words. "Someone told me that they are two sides of a coin but are really, two mountains with the fine line being a valley in between them."

Kyle shook his head, "I don't get it, that is preposterous to think that --" Lovell looked deep into Kyle's eyes. "Your serious aren't you?"

Lovell nodded, "Hunter sounds lost like me, we don't know if the roles we were placed in are what we are meant to do, and all we do is stumble around think we are doing the right thing." Lovell smiled at the thought, closing his eyes trying to imagine what Hunter might look like. "Besides he has you, a friend he can trust unless others say otherwise."

Kyle relaxed before turning away, "Before I forget, Hunter is the one who killed Morris ten years ago on that day."

Lovell turned to Kyle as he left, rage built when he found that Hunter was the killer of Morris. Moving to the wall, Lovell waited patiently for Hunter to come around. "Now how to properly introduce myself to you, Hunter?" A dark glare pierced the shadow from Lovell.

An hour later Lovell notice someone walk in, they seemed distracted as they punch the wall, Lovell grinned, "You seem to be fighting yourself their Faremin?" The person looked over, Lovell glared from the shadows. Lovell took a chance to see if they where Hunter, "Do you feel guilty for killing Morris or are you finally growing a real heart, because of some kindness, that you have yearned for was too much for you?" The urge to kill them rose up as the words spilled out.

The person moved to the bars, Lovell noticed he looked a lot like him. "Well, you act a lot like him."

Lovell figured that this person was Hunter that Kyle had mentioned earlier. Lovell got up and walked up to the bars to meet face to face. Curious about what he meant, Lovell steeled himself, "You mean Morris?" clenching his fists, poised to strike, Lovell not taking his eyes off Hunter, waiting for his response.

Hunter rests his arm the bars, Lovell noticed how calm the to Hunter's eyes. "No, Azoth Wolf, also known as Terrance Krisnik!" Lovell's eyes widened at the words.