I could only stare anxiously as Thoysal and Raset stared in each other's eyes. The vampire still had his fangs elongated in anger, while Raset was completely paralysed with fear. Neither of the two moved, and I couldn't either, being trapped in Raset's arms.

After what seemed like forever, Thoysal let go of the woman and stepped back, his expression void of emotion. Raset blinked, her eyes still wide. I gave a soft whine. Her grip on me loosened, and I wiggled in my spot to get some more space.

"Do you understand now?" Thoysal asked once the spirit had recollected herself somewhat.

"I do." Her soft voice confused me. All her anger and hatred was suddenly gone. Less than a minute ago, she'd been prepared to hurt him.

He gave a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Good. Think twice before insulting me, or any vampire, in the future. You do not know who they are, so you cannot judge them, like you judge most mortals."

Raset let go of me, although she continued stroking my fur. I purred softly in hopes of cheering her up, looking at Thoysal as I did so. 'What'd you do to her?'

'I showed her a little bit about you and a little bit about me. Nothing harmful, I promise,' he replied telepathically. Seems like he didn't want the spirit to hear, or he would've replied out loud.

I glanced at the quiet woman. Her eyes were unfocused, as if looking at something not quite there.

'That does not look like 'nothing harmful'...' I retorted. Picking up on my purring, I even rubbed my head against her leg. Finally, she seemed to notice me, her eyes focusing again.

Raset gave me a small smile and ruffled my fur. "It's fine. Your friend may not be all that bad after all."

After another rub against her leg, I looked at Thoysal again. 'Apologise. Now. You hurt her.'

He simply looked at me, expressionless. With a huff, I changed tactics. I tilted my head slightly and made my eyes look bigger, fluffing up my fur. 'Please? I don't want my friends to fight... I've seen far too much fighting in my life.'

That last one was a lie, but he didn't have to know that. It actually seemed to work, too. His shoulders lowered a little as he sighed. I watched him expectantly, waiting for him to apologise.

Silence reigned for several moments. Thoysal looked at the ground, as if the right words would appear on the grass and the flowers. Eventually, he said, "I can see you are worthy of taking care of Zanixa. I should not have doubted your abilities, but the injuries your wall of thorns gave me riled me up."

Raset paused in her petting to watch him. "Is that an apology? You really have to work on your social skills, vampire."

"Do not make me regret my decision," he threatened. With a small bark from my side, he hissed faintly and dropped his offensive behaviour.

"You are forgiven," she said as she got up and retrieved her bow. "I'd offer you food, but I don't have blood, and I'm not letting you drink mine."

Thoysal shrugged as he looked around the clearing, pausing when he saw the three ambertails hiding behind a clump of grass. "I do not mind. I can go for days without sustenance."

I followed his gaze to the trio of feathered creatures. "Those are my friends too," I said out loud, so both Thoysal and Raset could understand me. The vampire would be watching my thoughts, so he'd know what I said.

"Ambertails? Creatures of fire as well," Thoysal commented.

"They're fun to play with. At least they won't reject me." Somehow, I made my barks sound slightly sulky. It still stung that they rejected me, and they deserved every single burn they had got because of my fire.

He sighed and reached out to pet me. I moved forward a bit to allow him. His fingers combed through my fur as he said, "I am truly sorry that happened. I thought they'd be more open towards you, since the Ira and Alpha already publicly accepted you. If I had known they'd so blatantly insult you and send you off, I would not have allowed you to go near them."

I looked in his eyes. "You want me to go back, don't you?"

A slow nod confirmed my thought. "Yes. I cannot stay here long, in case the other pack attacks, and I'd rather you be with me, since I know I can protect you."

"But Raset can protect me too! And she knows my momma," I added with a meaningful look towards the spirit.

She seemed to get my hint and sat up a little. "I know where her mother is located and can call her over. And, as you saw, I have plenty of weapons to keep her safe as well."

The vampire fell silent at that. "Then it may be better to let her stay here. She's missed her mother for centuries, I can hardly keep her from that even longer."

"So I can stay?" I asked, my eyes widening a little. My tail wagged in excitement, scorching grass left and right.

Thoysal sighed and looked at Raset, slowly stroking my back. "Is it possible that I can stay to watch over her, at least until I'm called back to the pack I stay with?"

"Hmm..." She watched the three ambertails peeking out of the hut in thought. One chirped when it saw her looking. Raset mimicked the sound, calling back to the little creature before her gaze settled on the vampire once more.

I turned around and bumped her leg with my nose, trying to get her to answer. She gave me a small smile and said, "Alright, you may stay for the time being. However, I am not sleeping in the hut with you, that place is for me and my companions solely."

"Deal."

The two shook hands, and it was settled. I was staying here, and my momma would soon come.