Janus waited impatiently for six days, hoping that the Avizon his brother discovered would indeed be his savior. The personality swings had gotten worse and his fur had once again darkened. He was in another terrifying point of this cycle. He’d again attacked Snowhawk the night before, and hadn’t seen her since. He assumed she was hiding with his brother.
Adian had proclaimed himself Snowhawk’s guardian, but his brother seemed to have an ulterior motive to protecting her. He wasn’t sure, but he felt that the chocolate furred wolf was trying to steal her away. Perhaps he hadn’t changed as much as he thought. Why else would he spend so much time with her? The mere thought of his brother and his love together made him angry.
Janus drew a deep breath. “Calm down,” he told himself. “She’d never leave you.” But the thought was still there. He could not take this out on Snowhawk again. She would eventually come to a point where she really wouldn’t be able to handle it, and in that state, may make a move he would forever regret.
But that’s not now. He needed to find her and apologize for the previous night. She meant the world to him, and to lose her to something as stupid as this other persona would be unbearable.
He left the chair he’d been sitting in, and walked out of his study. He had to find his bird.
Moments later, he softly knocked on Adian’s door. It was soon opened by his brother, and Janus could see his lightly furred love asleep in his bed. A scowl crossed his muzzle. “Behaving, I hope?” Janus asked.
“More than I could say for you,” his brother stared, returning the scowl.
“You know that wasn’t me.”
“I do. She does too,” he nodded to the sleeping female, ” but that doesn’t make it hurt any less for her.”
“What are you getting at, brother?”
“I warned you not to hurt her again, but you’re too weak to control this other persona. The only reason I don’t take her from you is it would break her heart to lose you again.”
“So just what are you getting at?”
“If things don’t improve by the time Rais leaves, don’t expect me to just give her back next time she runs to me to get away from you.”
“But you just said–!” Janus began.
“I know what I said,” Adian replied, cutting him off. “But what’s better for her? Losing you slowly, or all at once?”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Don’t underestimate me, brother.” Adian said as he walked out of his room, roughly bumping into Janus on the way out.
Snowhawk sat up as soon as Adian was out of earshot. She looked confused.
“How much did you hear?” Janus worriedly asked, walking over to her.
“Enough,” she replied, a frown on her face. “Janus, I had no idea…”
“I know, love. I didn’t either.” Janus sat down on the edge of the bed, next to her. “I almost wish you hadn’t heard that.”
“I’m sure he’s just stressed,” she whispered. “I think we all are.”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “For everything.”
She shook her head and sighed. “Don’t be. I know you didn’t mean last night. And I know you don’t wish to be trouble for us.”
“I’m just scared,” he admitted. “I don’t want to lose you.”
“And I don’t want to lose you either,” she said with a small smile. “Things are going to be rough.”
“I know.”
“This Avizon Adian has found will hopefully make things easier. But we still need to think of what to do about your brother.”
“I’m really not sure,” Janus frowned. “He’s important to both of us, and I know his stability is important to you.”
“Jealousy is a hell of a thing to deal with,” she said as she climbed from the bed.
*********
Hours later, Rais and his team finally arrived at the estate. Adian, still not having said another word to Janus, left to find Ginia and hope she could provide a means to save his brother. He was only doing this for Snowhawk’s sake. The pale mare seemed to be the main thing on his mind lately. He’d also considered moving back into the small house on the grounds that he used to live in. Distancing himself from her and his brother might be a good thing.
He sighed as he entered the bar. Ginia’s familiar Lupino form stood behind the bar, but the place seemed otherwise empty. She waved him over and then quickly wrote out, “I have one customer here,” then discreetly pointed to a corner booth.
Adian quickly glanced over, taking note of the red and silver furred, unicorn Delphin sitting in the strangely darkened corner. He didn’t care for the feeling the equine gave off, or the feeling that he couldn’t seem to focus on him.
“We can go in the back. He’ll be okay for a few minutes,” she wrote.
“If you’re sure,” Adian replied.
Ginia gave a small nod, then turned and led Adian to the back of the bar. She disappeared behind a windowless door, and leading him down into the basement where extra alcohol was stored. Going far into the storage area, amidst specality wines and the like, she turned to face him, and her wolf form changed into a draconic one.
“Thank you for doing this,” Adian bowed as she grabbed a nearby jar and unscrewed the lid.
Having left her notepad upstairs, she simply nodded and smiled, then brought the jar to her mouth, and carefully placed her fangs over the edge, then pressed the edge into her jaw to express the venom within her. She’d practiced this a couple times in the days since his first visit. There was never much venom, but her venom sacs were on the smaller side.
After emptying the sacs, she screwed the lid on tightly, then handed the jar to the chocolate furred wolf.
“Thank you,” Adian said.
Another smile and a nod, and Ginia changed back into her Lupino form. The two left the cellar where they returned to her notepad. She quickly scrawled down “I hope everything works out for you.”
“Me too, Ginia. And thank you, again.”
“Don’t worry about thanking me,” she wrote, “just get back to your brother.”
“Heading back now,” he smiled, then left the bar, his precious cargo in hand.
*********
Returning to the estate, Adian was greeted by Rais and his brother. “Welcome back,” the former said.
Adian was almost stunned. After what he’d said and done, his brother was acting like nothing had happened? “Thank you,” he replied, then turned to Rais. “I believe this is what you need,” the chocolate wolf said as he handed the jar to the other Lupino.
“Indeed. Thank you, Adian. This should give us the insite we need into the Avizon’s venom, and it should help your brother return to normal.”
“One can certainly hope.” Adian paused, then turned to Janus. “I’ll be moving back into my little house on the property. I think I need some time away, but I know I can’t leave this place unguarded.”
Janus gave a small nod. “If you think its for the best, then I can’t stop you. But will you at least let Snowhawk know before you begin hauling your stuff back there?”
“Of course. Where is she?”
“I believe she’s still in your room. Thinking. She heard us this morning.”
Adian folded his ears back. “Oh…” The younger brother reached up and scratched his head. “Dammit, this will be awkward.”
“Maybe not. Just tell her what’s going on. She’s strong.”
Adian gave a nod and turned toward his room. As he left, Janus looked at Rais and said, “I apologize. I don’t want to get you involved in this family matter.”
“Don’t worry,” Rais smiled. “I have two boys of my own. Much younger than you two, but brothers will be brothers. Now, my team and I are going to go get started, and we’ll call for you when we’re ready.”
“Thank you, Rais.”
*********
Adian slowly stepped in his room, looking up to see Snowhawk sitting on his bed in her feline form, and wearing the green dress he gave her long ago. Her legs dangled and her paws didn’t touch the floor. The Feln-formed-Delphin looked up as Adian entered, and gave him a small smile. He could tell she had a lot on her mind. “I’m sorry you had to hear that argument this morning.”
The cat shook her head. “If that’s how you feel, then don’t apologize.”
“It is. And I don’t know if you have any idea how hard it is for me to not just take what I want.”
“I have some idea. Its been hard for me to stand by your brother while his personality has shifted so much.” Adian hadn’t considered she was ever thinking of leaving Janus. “Especially with you around.” She sighed and continued on. “You took over the role left open when Legacy died. You’ve always been there when I needed and backed off to just watch when I didn’t. You’ve been a better Guardian than I could have ever asked for. And I do deeply care about you. We both know I’m going to outlive Janus several times over, as will you. So let’s not do anything rash until then. Both of us. I’ve made a promise to your brother, and I intend to keep it.”
Adian sighed, almost in relief. “Very well. And I will remain your protector as long as you’ll have me.”
“For as long as you think I’m worth protecting.”
“Now, all that said,” he cautiously began, “I’m going to move back into the little house I have on the property, once Janus is back to normal.”
Snowhawk looked down. “I see.”
“Don’t worry. I promise I won’t go farther than that. And I’ll be in the house often enough with keeping security around here.”
She gave a small nod.
Adian smiled at her. “Now, let’s go find my brother.”
They didn’t have to search long for Janus, soon finding him in his preferred study, waiting on news from Rais. “Everything alright?” he asked the pair as they walked in.
Snowhawk gave a small nod, then quickly crossed the room to him. She sat down in his lap, wrapping her arms around him, and hugging him tightly.
Adian looked away from the pair, still feeling jealous, even if he had made a pact with Snowhawk.
Fortunately for Adian, Rais soon called Janus and asked that he meet them. The trio walked to the appointed meeting spot, the estate’s large dining room for news about the Avizon venom.
“Well,” Rais began, “I have good news and potential bad news. The good is that we can make an anti-venom. The bad news is that it may not work.”
“That’s a risk I have to take,” Janus stated. “Things can’t keep going like they’re going.”
“Very well, but if we see side effects like we saw before, especially the memory loss, we’ll stop treatment immediately.”
Janus nodded to the other Lupino. “Understood.”
Snowhawk hopped up from Janus’ lap and the light furred wolf stood and followed the Director out. Once they were out of sight, Snowhawk sank down into the chair Janus had just been in. “I’m so scared of losing him this time,” she admitted to Adian, who kneeled next to her.
“He’s in the best hands possible. I’m sure you will be able to honor your vow to him longer than just tonight.”
“I hope so,” she said, trying to wipe the tears from her eyes.
*********
Hours later, Rais escorted Janus to his room. The pale wolf was exhausted, but felt better than he had in weeks. When they opened the door, they saw a sleeping Snowhawk. She was curled up on the bed, her back to the door, but they could tell she was clutching something tightly.
“I’ll take my leave, now. I’ll be back for you in the morning.”
“Thank you, Rais,” Janus said with a small bow. Once the Director was on his way, Janus entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed. His love was clutching his pillow, and her equine face was stained with tears. “Oh, Snowhawk,” he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
The mare awoke with a start. She quickly turned around and nearly hit Janus with the pillow. “Holy shit, you scared me,” she panted.
The wolf couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction. “Sorry, love.” He gently stroked her arm as she calmed herself down. “In the middle of a bad dream?”
She nodded. “I don’t really want to say what, but yes. It’s like I can’t get away from my fears.”
“Well, I do have some good news. I think the treatment is working this time. It’s just making me very tired.”
“That’s excellent news!” she exclaimed. Janus smiled broadly and leaned in to embrace her. Snowhawk in turn turned and embraced him as well. “I’m so glad,” she said, “I’ve been so afraid that I’m going to lose you.”
“You’re not going to lose me, love. I’ll beat this, I promise.”