Turned out there was so much "else" between them. Taro went on to explain his family—his royal family. Sovanna could only stare in shock without a word of interruption on her part, to find out how alike they really were, from being the youngest in a royal family down to the part about their fathers being accused of withholding food and tools from lower kind.

But that wasn't all.

"And we both have prophecies on our shoulders. And for me," Taro licked his lips, "I'm not evil. I only came to see the Kaunlutha side through. The Solar Song." 

He paused when Sovanna gasped, then went on. "Yes, you got me, I knew about it. I even knew the whole thing. I guess Aerisi were shown it first. All clans were notified. The one who has the frost beast, now, don't you two look at me like that. I had my reasons. The clan with the frost beast had already been working on being riders of it to control it since the day you were born, Sovanna, the day the prophecy began. And when I was born, I guess," He gave a laugh, "How unique of a world we live in that our paths cross in such ways!"

Rokki hissed. "Didn't even bother to tell us!"

"You would have done the same. Prophecies are delicate. Can't go around telling them like gossip. Before I came, I told Kazo not to attack because I could fulfill the prophecy before time was up. Looks like he decided not to wait. But when I came here and I got to know you," He smiled at Sovanna and gave a nod at Rokki, "I—my family is what matters to me. They're nice to me. They take care of me. I only have love for them. Even Kazo. But when I came here, I became conflicted. Fond now, quite, of Kaunlutha." He went silent for a moment, staring out into the frost fog. "A civil war with my own emotions and beliefs."

He gave a shrug and a lopsided grin. "Let me really preface this. Really. I'm not evil," he said, "It's the prophecy."

That's what he meant. She nodded. But it's still your choice.

Silence hung over them. She still couldn't believe that Taro was a male Praenglutha—"Praenhasalutha" in her language—and he had a prophecy with him like she did. But he was juggling between answering to a prophecy and having become "fond" of Kaunlutha. She frowned at the way he put it making it sound distant.

"We're friends though, right?" she asked, "I would like it."

Taro was about to answer when Rokki hissed. "Stop stalling. Tell us about prophecy. What you know. What you were going to do to us after we were done fighting for our lives and destroying ice beast."

Rokki leaned back on his paws and stretched out his legs as if to relax, but his tail was still rigid.

"Tell us more," he said through his teeth.

Taro scratched his neck. "I wasn't supposed to—"

"You came this far. You better." Sovanna crossed her arms. Finally, it was going to all make sense what was going on with Drazlesk, Kaunlutha, the Aerisi, the prophecy—now there were two—and about her and Taro. All those seemingly unconnected things were somehow connected. Sovanna suddenly felt small in the grand scheme of things. And she couldn't believe Aerisi really did have a frost beast and they really did ride the beast.

Does one Aerisi ride it or all of them? she wondered. How big is it?

She sure didn't want to know.

"Alright," Taro said at last, "but before that, I need a drink of water or something."

"Lick ice," she and Rokki said at the same time. They met eyes and both cracked a smile. For a second the tensions lessened. Even Taro played into it.

"Of all the things, seriously?" He rolled his eyes, but a smile played on his lips. Then he broke off an icicle from a tree branch. "You don't even know where this water has been."

Sovanna grinned. "Maybe it's lee-kee," She giggled, "or fidni."

"Or savat," Rokki chimed in.

"Or—wait, what's savat mean?" She thought this whole time it was only a made-up word to say in place of all swear words if you felt like it.

Taro chuckled, licking the icicle. "You use it all the time and you don't know what it means? And what's lee-kee?"

Rokki reached over and pinched her nose.

"Ow—"

"It's primate poop, you silly vikmik. Lee-kee is the other one."

"Oh," Taro said, "what I'll get if I lick too many icicles."

Rokki continued to squeeze her nose until she poked his ribs to make him stop. With a squeal he fell over and curled up in a ball. Sovanna lifted her nose high, proud at finding his weak spot.

"You're more ticklish than I am," she said.

Taro gave a snicker. "Oh, Guardian's tongue, you're both such children."

Rokki pounced on Sovanna, but she kicked him in the stomach and quickly got on top of him. Twisting her legs around his, she grabbed his wrists and twisted them together, holding them off to the side. Rokki struggled under her and she gave a growl in his ear.

"I win. Again."

"How you so strong when you're so small?"

"I'm ready to go on," Taro called, "You two want another prophecy or what? If you take so long to get here, I'll go make some loopholes while I wait."

Sovanna kneed Rokki in the stomach and as he writhed, she slipped off of him and planted herself in front of Taro. "Ready for my lesson, teacher," she said with a grin.

Taro reached over and patted her head. "It's good to see you laughing a lot more." He leaned back on his hands. "I was getting worried you might completely shut down."

"You were worried about me?" she asked and he nodded.

"It's not easy to lose a parent. I can't even imagine."

Rokki sat down with a thud next to Sovanna. "Okay, tell us the prophecy."

Taro's smile disappeared and he furrowed his brows. "It's called Frozen Fate. And it's not pretty," he began.

* * *

When Taro, at last, with a shuddering breath, finished the story of the prophecy, a heaviness hung in the air. He had explained what it meant he had to do and what it then meant for Sovanna. Rokki twisted his jaw. His eyes gleamed. It was understandable he was angry at Taro for trying to deceive them in the beginning even though he had a change of mind at the boat and another one when he saw her crying at the sun shrine.

Rokki shot out his paw.

"Rokki, wait—" She reached for him, but it was only a pawshake, reaching for Taro's hand.

"We'll ally."

Taro blinked at him, his jaw dropping. He closed his mouth and swallowed. "You know I came here to make sure it happened as it was supposed to. I have to take the one with the Ater with me. And if that's Sovanna—"

"Doesn't have to be," Rokki interrupted, "It doesn't and that's why I want to ally—"

"No, it does. The one with Ater. Who else is there? And you know I would choose family over both of you in a heartbeat. I would take her to her death, but I'm not evil. Neither are they. But we can't ignore the prophecy especially as we don't have any more time. It is Wings against Fangs. It is Aerisi against Kaunlutha, and least be glad I told you about it. And now I can peacefully fly in loopholes."

He flashed a glance at Sovanna when he said that.

What's his deal with loophole flying at a time like this? She pursed her lips. Sovanna would gladly take her Ater to her deathbed if it would protect her race.

She placed a paw on Rokki's arm. "It's fine. I'll go. I would do anything for them. You can take after it with Fira, I-I'll appoint you as my success—"

Rokki roared, but didn't transform. "The prophecy doesn't claim it needs to be the one born with to take Ater to Guardians. Pour the magick into me when time comes. I will take it. Kaunlutha waits for you, Sovanna. They can't without you. Without their Rosmavanna."

But as a queen, I would sacrifice myself. She thought firmly.

"Taro, where in prophecy it says it has to be her?"

Taro flew up and made a loop then came down again. "You're right. As long as she can transfer her Ater into you, I could take you in her place. But we should all go or time is wasting."

Rokki nodded with his eyes shining in determination. "We will fight the frost beast, too, if we have to. Before sun hides behind the moon, we will fight together. Until then." His voice cracked. "I know it. What it's like, Taro. I know to love your family that much you would even murder for them. You want to save Aerisi. I know. I want to save Kaunlutha. If I can do something for them, I want to." Then he turned to Sovanna and looked straight into her eyes. "And for you. I'd do for my friends."

Taro gripped Rokki's paw. "Then it's settled. We protect her until we get to the entrance into the realm of the Guardians. Right before the sun hides behind the moon, it will open. You will receive Ater. Best to do it there as you were not it's intended vessel. Your body might not be able to contain it well at first. But it will settle and I will take you with me instead."

It took a moment for her to realize what that meant—she would never see Rokki or Taro again. Taro was already told by his family he was chosen for this task because he was the runt.

"And if I miraculously return, my family has promised a hero's welcome," Taro said with a smile and a hint of sadness behind his eyes. "Then we'll all make loops and holes in the sky."

Never mind loops and holes! Sovanna shook her head. She thought she finally had friends, and now they were both going to go away forever?

"I'll go," she insisted, "let me do what I'm supposed to."

Rokki rested a paw on her shoulder. "No, Sovanna. Kaunlutha needs you. And then you'll be a Guardian. You can protect Kaunlutha for long time."

Her chest tightened. "But we're finally friends," she said, hugging Rokki tight. She didn't want Rokki to go into the realm instead of her, or Taro. She was finally beginning to like them both. Taro's side of the prophecy stated that if the Ater didn't return to the Guardians so they can regain control of the frost beast, the beast would freeze over the entire Fifth Ring killing everyone, even Aerisi. Just as Kaunlutha were, Aerisi were also a dying species.

But isn't there a way to save everyone?

Rokki shrugged her in a hug. "I feel like it's fate. If I wasn't here, both you would die or disappear forever, I guess."

Sovanna reached out to Taro and grabbed his sleeve. She pulled him into a group hug where ultimately it was Rokki towering over them both.

"There has to be another way," she whispered. Neither answered. Taro squeezed himself out of the hug and Rokki gently pried Sovanna off of him. Then they all faced the frosted fog. Taro took to the air.

"You don't have to. I don't think we get iceblood," Rokki called.

Taro nodded. "I knew about that. Oolid told me."

Sovanna wiped her tears away. "Oolid knew?" she squeaked. She couldn't believe he ahd kept that from the lions all this time only to make sure all the magical ones would die off.

Most evil out of all evils. Worse than Guardians? Maybe.

She wiped her tears away, knowing she should be strong. She couldn't disregard their desires to help Kaunlutha by letting her stay behind. And Aerisi would be saved, too. Wasn't this a happy ending? All she had to do was figure out how to feel the Ater again by the time they got there and figure out how to transfer it to someone else.

Transferring powers? Why's no one asking if it's possible. Nothing is settled here!

But the males were already making plans on how to get to Drazlesk quicker and hopefully without interruptions from the Guardians. Sovanna thought they still had some talking to do but when she opened her mouth to say something, Rokki or Taro would stop her and tell her they would protect her.

I can protect myself, savat, she huffed and crossed her arms. It didn't make sense to her why the Guardians wanted the Ater so badly but refused to let Sovanna get to Drazlesk. There was something there and it wasn't revealing itself. She had a hunch it was related to whatever they were hiding in Drazlesk.

Can't hide forever. Whatever it is. She twitched her tailtip, getting impatient as the males shared a laugh and another with each other. Taro caught her eye and flew in a loop. He winked at her. She gave a small smile.

Loophole. Sure, funny. What about me?

It was all fine the males decided on their fates and were happy about being self-sacrificing protectors, but it all depended on her accessing her full potential again. Never mind the transferring part. Sovanna had to find that tremendous power again. It was hidden somewhere deep inside of her. That core she saw, she wasn't sure if that was all the power, but it certainly did call the sun. Once that happened, all Kaunlutha accepted her as their leader. She began to wonder if they still would after her Ater was gone.

I'll have Guardian magick, then. She nodded to herself. Whatever that means. But it makes more sense if I go to Drazlesk.

"We're heading east as that was the direction we saw the vision. I'll keep an eye out for Drazlesk in the sky." Taro flew down to them. "And you keep an eye out on the ground."

Rokki nodded. "I'll keep a nose out."

Taro gave a smile and slapped Rokki on the back. "Counting on you, par'ner."

"Brother," Rokki said with a laugh. Taro grumbled about being significantly older than him and made two loops in the sky. "Stop doing that, fidni, makes me dizzy watching."

"Doesn't make me dizzy," Taro smirked, and made more loops, "If I'm fast enough, they become like holes and—"

"Loopholes, I got it," Sovanna scowled, "So are my two warriors guiding me there or what?"

Taro flew up to the sky but not so far that she couldn't make out his grinning down on her. Rokki went to scout ahead a little, but never strayed too far to make sure she was catching up. They were willing to throw themselves into the water for her, dousing their flames and never coming back.

I can't let them do that.

She would figure out a way around it all in secret, she decided. There had to be a way.

Then a phrase popped into her mind; "It's not set in stone".

Who said that? she wondered. A scene replayed in her mind. It was in the abandoned Human tower with Vislo and Bristya and Oolid.

Sovanna turned away from Taro and Rokki to hide her grin as she remembered Oolid yelling that the prophecy was not set in stone. That was what gave her the idea to change it. And she remembered her mother saying she had to beg to Aurvandil to let her come.

As if she wasn't supposed to.

A smile crept across her face as a thought blossomed in her mind. Each petal slowly unfurled, taking shape bit by bit, until she could, at last, see the flower. When she looked up, Taro was flying in loops again. He paused and stared down at her with a straight face.

Then he made a loop through the frost fog, actually making a hole. With a whisk of his hand, he covered the hole up with a new cloud of frost fog.

"Can you find it?" he called.

"Stop playing around," she shouted back, "We don't have weeks and weeks."

"Find it, Sovanna," he said, his voice was deep and serious and it sounded like it was coming directly into her head, but she could swear she saw his mouth moving.

So serious about a game. Why am I finding loopholes? She scowled and then an idea clicked. Wasn't she just thinking about prophecies not being set in stone? She was thinking about her mother begging to Aurvandil and going against him to warn Sovanna about the prophecy. Because of that, Sovanna was able to try to get to Drazlesk earlier. It didn't work, but at least she tried.

Taro was giving her the answer all this time. Even before she arrived to it herself, he had figured it out.

That savat.

A giddy smile spread across her lips. She wanted to laugh about it because he was being so ridiculous. Then she realized, Rokki's fate wasn't decided. He could still live and go back to his sister. Taro was merely playing along. Rokki, on the other paw, she couldn't tell. He did sound quite serious about it.

But why not tell Rokki? Why not say it out loud?

Sovanna nodded to herself, realizing it right away. The Guardians would be listening in, of course. Ultimately, they wanted Kaunlutha to give up Ater. Ater needed a vessel to be passed over to the Guardians. It could be Sovanna, but she was to be a queen and a Guardian. She gripped the emerald in her paw. In the end, Rokki was their choice.

Did they choose him or did we? she wondered. She shoved the thought away. It didn't matter which. It would have happened anyway.

"Taro," she yowled up, "can you take this for me for safe keeping?" She brandished the emerald.

"Sure," he said and flew down to her. Then his mouth moved, but no sound came out. His voice echoed in her head. "Next time, don't take so long. Made me dizzy." He took the emerald from her outstretched paw. His brows furrowed and his lips set in a straight line. Taro patted her head. "It'll be fine."

Sovanna gave a firm nod. "Now, get back up there warrior."

Taro pumped his fist in the air. "You can count on me, Vanna." He flew back to the sky.

What did he say? Vanna?  She grimaced. But she kind of liked it. Sovanna smiled.