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It was not the first time Sophia was in that room.

It had certainly been a long while since the last time, but less than she would have liked. <<More time in some worlds, less time in others>> a voice that sounded painfully familiar recited in her mind. There were so many buried memories in that office that it might have easily been one of the few places in the world, in both worlds, in which she could have lost control over her actions.

But the woman did not.

'I agree with Mr. Zero here,' the man in the maroon suit said, after a long silence. Then, he exhaled and his smoke seemed to swirl towards Sophia, who stood not far from there, in the center of the room, with her hands crossed behind her back. 'About your personal implications and blah blah blah. You're walking on a razor's edge, dear Sophia. If you're not careful enough, you can cut yourself.'

<<That already happened>> the woman thought, repressing every single emotion from showing in her face.

'Sir, there were many employees with me in Unit B37, as you know. It would be unfair to blame me for the series of mistakes that preceded the anthro rebellion… which could have been avoided had workers such as Camus Beaumont followed my instructions.'

The man in the maroon suit looked at her for a short while, then burst out in laughter.

'Ha ha! You have to admit, Mr. Zero, that she has a wicked sense of black humor. And she is quite right, most of time. Was that why we decided to hire her?'. Mr. Zero did not make a single movement. 'No? Whatever.'

He took a puff from his cigar and exhaled slowly, his eyes fixed on the woman who stood in front of him.

'You are clever, Sophia. Very clever. Outstandingly clever. Dangerously clever. I might be overrating you, but I think you'd be able to fool all your co-workers into making the same mistakes you complain they made, without even telling them. Sly weasel.'

'You are indeed overrating me, sir,' Sophia answered, unblinking.

'I'll be the one to decide that. From now on, you won't be taking part in any of the projects that take place in the Hubert units. Instead, you'll work in our laboratories… here on Earth. Is that clear?'

'Crystalline, sir,' Sophia replied, lowering her head a bit just as she was supposed to do. Playing the role of the submissive employee was humiliating, but terribly easy.

'Now, on another subject. What about that beautiful arctic fox of ours? What are we going to do about him?' asked the man in the maroon suit, turning to Mr.Zero and taking another puff from his cigar. 'I don't have anything about those creatures as long as they're quiet, and preferably hanging over my chimney. Ha!'

'I already have a time-saving plan,' the other man answered, still like a statue. 'It would not need our implication. But I'll need Lefebvre's cooperation. She has something I need.'

The woman turned to look at him, with curiosity burning deep inside her eyes. Then, a flash of understanding as she suddenly comprehended what Mr. Zero was talking about.

<<You'd better keep safe, Lagopus Z,>> she thought to himself, feeling at the same time wondered and terrified at the things that were to come.

The lion had travelled through rain and thunder, through blizzard and hurricane, up the rivers and down the valleys, willing to go back home.

He had met friends in his journey, but also defeated enemies. He had faced ghosts, cut bonds and found names. He was ready to return to his tower and reunite with the one he truly loved.

Nothing could stop him when he finally reached his castle, six months after his departure. The servants asking him to rest from the trip were but mere faces by his side. The demanding roar of his father, nothing but a broken mirror in the gallery of lost memories. There was a terrible smile, somewhere; but that, too, had been forgotten.

He climbed his tower and entered his room, and there he found a tigress and a little husky, terribly bored, who greeted him with hugs and questions.

But he ignored them and quietly asked them to leave the room.

He wanted to be alone with the arctic fox that he loved.

When the door closed at the other side of the room, Ike was already sitting in his bed, the head of Zèon gently resting on his lap.

He was alive. He was incredibly thin and weak, but he was still alive. The lion did not know how that was possible, but he was still breathing even though it had been more than half a year since he had left him there. He was still fighting for his life. Ike caressed his face, marveled at the fox's determination to live and containing the tears from his eyes.

'It's been so hard,' he said, with a lump in his throat. 'And it's been so long. But I'm here, at last. And I will never ever leave you alone again…'

He bent towards the arctic fox, holding him in his arms, and moving him closer to his chest. He affectionately licked his cheek and then put his muzzle on his shoulder. He closed his eyes, feeling immensely happy.

Nothing in the world could stop that moment.

'I love you, Aer,' he whispered into his hear.

Nothing happened, at least for the first seconds. Ike waited there, his body close to the arctic fox, almost feeling his weak heartbeats, mimicking the rhythm of his breathing.

He waited there, with his eyes closed, hoping that it was not too late.

Then, suddenly, the whole body of the arctic fox trembled and bent over in his arms. The unexpected movement surprised the lion at first, but as soon as he realized that it had worked, an immense wave of relief washed over him, taking off all the tension that he had carried on his shoulders for more time that he was willing to admit. He kissed him and licked him, hugging him close, as he muttered his name again and again, never wanting to forget it. The fox stood there, too weak to move, just clinging to Ike's body as if it was his only link to the world of the living. The lion loved him more than he had ever did.

But he did not look him in the eye. If he had, he would have seen the truth behind those eyes full of pain, the reality beyond his awakening.

The fox was simply, utterly terrified.

_-The story of "Embertooth" will soon be continued in "Bloodprint".- _