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At this, Protean's eyes just about left his skull. Shock had firmly taken a hold of him and had nearly stopped his heart. Memories of the past came flooding into his mind unbidden, bringing both thoughts of joy and of utter grief and despair. For a moment, a savage and very loud growl rose from deep within him. How dare this interloper disgrace the memory of Grey and Haku like this. Impersonating his late mate's son to get to him. Yet, he couldn't deny his scent any longer. Now that he could smell it better, it was identical to what an older Haku's should've been.

Slowly, his muscles relaxed and his shoulder slumped, his body reverting to the human stage as well. Just then, the werewolf stared long and hard at the boy that he had once learned to call his own blood. "Impossible... Everyone died that day the Haven was massacred. Grey... She died in my arms. Yet, her carry her scent. Haku... Is that you"?"

For a brief instant, tears could be seen in the werewolf's eyes, but were quickly blinked away. Protena would've never thought it possible that someone else had survived that day. The bodies of so many friends lay strewn about like a morbid child's toys. Rikka... Ryago... Tryph... Grey. This was almost too much to bear. Yet, it was both grief and happiness that now filled the werewolf's emotions.

Smiling slightly, Proteann outstretched an arm and patted Haku on the back as he headed for the tree house. So it was true. Having Grey's, and therefore Teranika's blood in him, his origins truly did lay in that cave nearby. Thus, Protean had no reason to stop him. Though, what Haku hoped to find Protean could never fathom. There was nothing left in there for him, but for Haku there just might be. But first, some catching up was in order.

Glancing behind him, Protean offered a stronger smile than before as he continued walking, meaning for Haku to follow him. "Well, you'll always be squirt to me. So what brings you in this area? I would think there was nothing left for you here."

"Is it, Haku? Long ago when you're mother and I first discovered our past lives... our powers... we had broken a curse placed on us, a continuing cycle of being reincarnated. The curse was meant to destoy us over and over again, until we found our true purpose. To be vessels for Teranika and Fenrir.

Not a day has gone by where I don't think of your mother, Haku. Though part of me wishes what you say to be true, I can not ignore the facts that Archon himself gave us. The cycle was supposed to be broken. I cannot wish Grey back. No matter how hard I try.

And... There is another now. In many ways, she reminds me of what I have lost in Grey. Yet, she is also so different. So unique. It would be unfair to allow her to dwell in your mother's shadow." As Protean said this, a light sigh parted his lips as he took a seat at the base of his tree. Part of what Haku said made Protean torn. To have Grey return to him would be a blessing like none other. Yet, he was with Miyuki, who he intended to be his lifemate. Just as Grey was. He didn't like to dwell on these thoughts.

"You make it sound like its so easy, Haku. Even I have no idea how many times Grey and I were reincarnated. First as the original Gods of the Old Realm, then after that... I don't know. Hundreds? Thousands? Millions of times?" Though such words would've no doubt carried hostility, none were present in Protean's tone. He knew Haku only to be trying to be helpful, no other reason. But, it was bad enough that so many memories both from ancient times and from this life were flooding his mind. Though he knew it to be true and for the best, he didn't like the idea that he would never see Grey again.

Bah... You have to stop that. He's right, you know. The past is done and the future is all that matters now. Your future is hopefully with Miyuki. Live that to the fullest so you do honor to Grey's memory. Protean looked up at Haku from where he sat. The boy had indeed changed much over the years. Into a fine young man with extraordinary talents. There was no doubt in Protean's mind that Grey would be very proud of her son. Just as he was. "But thanks, squirt.", he said with a half-hearted smile.

Raleigh felt a shiver go down her spine as she found that time had passed for quite some while. She opened her eyes to see that she was still in the new area. Deciding it best to wander with someone to get familiar with each path, she turned her head as lightning struck rapidly, and thunder took it's place in the sky, and in the next momment she had dissapeared back to Orion.

"I know, Haku. But for all you know, she might not be coming back. The cycle is broken as Archon said it would be. From that moment on, there was no coming back. Your mother...both Grey and Teranika are in a better place than this world could ever be." Protean was sure of that. Charon was nothing but a pile of dusty bones wrapped in rags. He was just as trapped in the Underworld like all the other fallen dead there. Yet, somehow he had managed to break his shackles and return to the Realm of the Living. To destroy Hell's Haven and focus on taking Grey's life. That bothered Protean then and it didn't stop now.

But, the werewolf was sure that Grey was forever beyond Charon's reach now. Yet, there was something that didn't smell right. Why would he focus almost soley upon Grey. Why would he want to murder Teranika's vessel? Protean didn't have the answers and that bothered him even more. Yet, he knew Grey and Teranika to be far away from his grasp. He couldn't hurt them anymore.

"Well, if you're here I suppose so you're right, squirt. There is nothing in the ruins for me anymore. Just relics to a life that I cannot fully remember. But for you, there may be something. You want to guide you to the entrance?" While he spoke, Protean was already standing and walking to Haku. He wasn't sure if the dormant energies through the ruins still existed, but he might as well find out for sure. Besides, it had a been long while since he had seen Haku. He owed him this much.

Protean's eyes widened a little bit in surprise at Haku's request, but it soon diminished into an understanding smile. The tree house was more than adequate enough to house a few more people. If not, there was always more room in the tree to build. Haku was family, even if he wasn't of Protean's blood. "Of course, Haku. Stay as long as you need."

The two were just beginning to enter the wolves' cave now. Several of Protean's brethren sat and watched the pair go in deeper, through dark tunnels and even darker, castle-like carverns. But finally their goal was reached. It was only a small room where a little moonlight came in through a hole in the cieling. It was probably once a bedroom. Protean's old one.

Off in the corner was a pile of ancient furs, strung together upon a frame of bones to create bed. On the eastern wall were four alcoves where the remains of candles once lay. But on the northern wall was what they were looking for. A huge Celtic Pentagram of white pain. Looking to be just freshly done, even though it asuredly millions of years old.

Looking to Haku, the werewolf revealed a pentagram of the same design to be on the top of his right hand. The symbol for Fenrir. All that was needed now, was for Haku to show his. The symbol for Teranika. A great tree done entirely in celtic knots. Grey used to have it on her right shoulder-blade. But on Haku, it was probably hidden elsewhere.