When Hongjoong awoke the next day, the sun had not yet risen. There were tell-tale signs of morning; a flock of white birds in the singular tree near the Lake chirping softly, the sky slowly turning a lighter shade of dark blue, and the moon nearly setting in the now starless sky.

Hongjoong slowly sat up, and attempted to move his legs. When he found that he couldn't, he looked down to find his new wolf friend curled up asleep on his legs. Hongjoong smiled, and bent over to slowly push Lisa off his legs. The tiny movement caused the wolf to open her eyes just slightly, and she stared at Hongjoong as if he had done something to offend her.

"Sorry Lisa" he apologised.

'It is alright Hongjoong' she replied.

Lisa moved off his legs, but did not make any move to stand, It was obvious the wolf was still tired, and so Hongjoong allowed the wolf to sleep a little more. However Lisa lay awake, watching him with curious green eyes as he walked over to where Seonghwa sat by the Lake that was still glowing brightly, and it would continue to do so until the sun rose. Hongjoong sat next to Seonghwa, and the two sat there in a peaceful silence. Hongjoong guessed that the Prince was meditating; Seonghwa's eyes were closed and he was humming a soft tune. Although, Hongjoong wasn't savvy in the way of meditating, so he may have been reading the situation wrong.

Seonghwa peeked an eye open when he realised a presence next to him, smiling softly. "Did you sleep very well?"

"Uhm, yeah, I did. Thanks for asking" Hongjoong nods, smiling as well.

Hongjoong also took note of how Seonghwa's face was slightly flushed as the Prince continued to eye him, and Hongjoong thought that was very adorable.

"Are you shy Prince Seonghwa?" Hongjoong giggled.

Seonghwa sputtered just a little, but instead of trying to defend himself, he said nothing for a long few moments. It wasn't awkward, but it wasn't the most comfortable silence either. Suddenly, they hear growling coming from Lisa, and Hongjoong whips his head around only to find Shades advancing towards them.

"I thought you said that the Shades wouldn't come near the Lake because of the glow"

"They won't come any closer, don't worry" but even Seonghwa didn't sound too convinced.

Hongjoong could feel something was off. There was a darkness in the air and it was almost suffocating in nature. There was something following the Shades, and Hongjoong was fairly sure it was their Master, meaning Mikaelis had finally found out where he was.

"We need to leave, and we best hurry before he gets any closer"

Hongjoong turns and stares at Seonghwa. "You can feel that?"

"Yes, I can" Seonghwa shudders, "He's still quite far away, but he's powerful. We're only feeling a tiny sliver at this point, but if i have to take a guess, I'd say that Mikaelis has found you, and wants to kill you"

San and Jongho exit their tents the moment they feel that same darkness, and they both fix their stares on Hongjoong.

"Do you want to run? Or do you want to stay behind and face him?" San asked.

Jongho smacked him. "By Aurora, are you a complete idiot!? He has no idea how to use the power he has, and I doubt Taemin would want to stick around on land for long enough to teach him"

"Jongho's right. I have no idea how to focus my power. Maybe, if we can find those others that are like me, then I could learn" Hongjoong jumped up, "so let's get the fuck out of here before we're all killed"

***

Even all the way in Pixie Place, Yunho knew that Mikaelis was no longer in his domain. He had physically felt him step into Aurora itself, and it was a sick feeling that made him want to puke up all the food he ate and then some.

He was asleep on the couch with Mingi when he felt it, and he practically rolled onto the floor in shock.

"Oh no...oh no, no, no, no, no! This cannot be happening! Not now! Damnit!" Yunho cursed, scrambling up into a standing position.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Mingi groaned sleepily, rubbing his eyes.

"Our friends are in danger" Yunho chewed his bottom lip. "Mikaelis has left the Outer Shade. He's hunting Hongjoong. I'm not able to put a protection spell on them because they're too far away, but i pray to the Gods that Taemin will keep his own son safe"

Mingi sat up slowly. "Yunho, you told me a while back that Mikaelis has grown a hundred times more powerful over the years. Who's to say he isn't more powerful than an actual God?"

"I..." Yunho couldn't find the words.

If only he had gone with them. If only he had thought to put a protection spell on them. So many 'if only' scenario's ran through his head, and it was making him dizzy.

"He can't be more powerful than the Gods themselves. If he is though...then the entirety of Aurora is doomed"