Caden was meant to protect them, killing their enemies and ensuring they lived happy and free from the constant worry that came from being a target.
He'd never wanted anything else for himself. Loyalty was enough.
At least until Eva.
If she needed him to, he'd step out of the shadows he'd existed in for so long. Use the light to burn the world into a version she could live with.
"Do not worry, child. I can guide you to greatness. All you need do is cast off the old," the creature promised.
The snickers started softly. Growing until Van and Gawain's laughter echoed off the cliff side.
The peaceful expression on the creature's face faded.
"You don't understand him at all if you think he can be made to flip that easily," Van rumbled. "There's a reason he's called the most loyal mutt."
Caden watched as thoughts moved across the creature's face. Cunning followed by puzzlement.
"McClure's children have always been greedy. You are no different," he said to Caden.
"Who is McClure?" Van muttered.
"What are you hoping to accomplish here?" Caden asked, not caring about the answer.
"If you're not the one responsible, I simply have to find the one who is."
"What does that mean?" Caden demanded.
"You'll see." The creature's bones began to collapse as the tissue connecting them burned. "Very soon, I think."
The rest of the body folded. His skull landed upright, eyes still on Caden. There was a rictus grin on his face. His lips and nose were gone, his flesh charred black.
Flames continued to eat at him, destroying the last of his body as they watched.
"What in our ancestor's name was that about?" Van asked.
"Mind games and power plays." Gawain nudged the body with his sword.
A piece of bone broke, and part of the body collapsed into ash. Smoke wafted out of what remained, curling in on itself as it rose into the air.
The Trateri watched spellbound as it sent out feelers, searching for something.
"I'm guessing that's not a good thing," Jane said.
The smoke snapped in Caden's direction. Chaos erupted. Shouts sounded as the smoke darted toward him, giving him no chance to dodge.
The smoke surrounded his face, trying to infiltrate his lungs.
Something in him resisted. A speck of light that flared, driving the smoke out again. Caden got a flash of images that made no sense. A cave encased in mist. A ring that was also a sphere. The sound of feathers and wind.
And finally, Eva.
The smoke buzzed, giving off a sense of anger as it retreated. Then it darted toward Caden again, undeterred.
A yip sounded from the hills surrounding them. Fire shot toward Caden. It hit with a whoomph, encasing the smoke.
The two elements dueled. The fire winning as it shredded the remnants of smoke.
The fire fox's tails windmilled around him as he ran over the air, landing on the ground a few feet away. He trotted toward Caden with an expectant look.
