It came out of nowhere. A lashing wind of biting ice and rabid teeth turning fiery veins to intricate frozen lines that spread. Slating over ferocious flames that now whimpered beneath the cold.

The phoenix hadn't even seen the wraith, waiting behind shadowed trees. Inhabiting the body of a middle-aged man. Eyes gouged out seeped darkness from their sockets, the wispy black strands flowing over pale cheekbones and falling to the leafy forest floor. It cackled, revealing a maw of sharpened teeth and an obsidian tongue that dripped viscous slime.

Wraiths didn't hang around long after devouring the energy they sought. Taking out a phoenix was an impressive feat. A dangerous one. And the wraith didn't waste time making its exit, weaving between trees until the phoenix could no longer see it.

No matter. Death lingered not far away. Brutal frigid fingers reaching forward from the night-laden surroundings. Scraping the woodland floor as the last seconds began snuffing out the rest of the firebird's limping flames. Pursuit was impossible…. as was survival.

It had never found death particularly terrifying. Just another motion towards the future. But, now, the phoenix grappled with crushing loneliness and despair. After six millennia serving its creator, none would send it off to the void. None would weep for its demise. None would even realize it was gone.

Darkness was growing, flames nothing more than remnant embers at this point. The phoenix expected to feel the icy chill of death consuming it. Instead, there was…. a warmth. Minuscule sparks that turned at its core, flaring with each beat of its strangled heart. Heat began seeping back into stiff muscles, turning solid veins back into flowing streams of magma that bubbled in delight at the returned freedom. Loud whoofs signaled the return of the creature's magnificent flames, eating at the air around them. Climbing towards the stars.

With a start, the phoenix found itself standing to its feet. Wings stretched to incredible lengths, sending flecks of light shimmering through the limbs of surrounding trees. The creature's blazing eyes shifted to the ground. Ashes lined where its grave should have been.

New life had been given. Yet the provider was nowhere to be found. Glowing orbs formed from the bird's core and scattered out around it, the dancing orange lights seeking out its savior. Only vegetation and a few nocturnal creatures answered.

The phoenix called back its light. Unfamiliar twists knotted at its flaming core, a weight settling over the great bird. A moment of fear traveled through scalding veins. Was this a curse of the life returned?

Whatever it was became lost to the ground as the phoenix launched itself into the sky. Night-touched forests struck out in all directions, thick carpets of canopy that swayed in the light breeze. Waves that rolled gently beneath the brilliant light of their protector. Bursts of warm air brushed their tops as the phoenix flew above them.

That fateful night ended, another day singing as the sun rose. Morning passed quickly, turning to dusk once more. Those like the phoenix had no need for time. They did not age, eternal life flowing from the hearts of their creators. Counting minutes was a meaningless waste of energy.

So why then did the phoenix begin noticing the slow waking of morning life and the quick onset of the night? Why was it able to understand that a century had passed without its rescuer ever having been found? Why was there this…. feeling of distress at how long it'd searched with no results?

Spitting flames of aggravation, the bird rose above the clouds. One of its siblings was calling. A hellhound had been found. Far less dangerous than wraiths but needing disposed of all the same. Ariviaee was the youngest, least experienced. Birthed by their creator not more than half a century ago. The phoenix had heard of its sibling's creation but cared not enough to make the trip to meet it.

Sure enough, Ariviaee was grounded, blue flames licking at the dry brambles at its feet. The phoenix landed, its own orange blaze swirling in tandem with Ariviaee's. Before the two of them stood an enormous hound. Like its siblings, the creature had a flesh-bare head, its skull refracting the dancing flames of its adversaries. Dark red orbs flashed within the eye sockets, two cartilage ears flat against its indigo pelt. Its maw opened in a snarl while twin tails moved in tandem across the hardened dirt floor.

Leave us! It barked, taking a single step back.

Insinuations of another drew the phoenix forward.

Where is the other? Ariviaee hissed, its flames roaring.

The hound gave no hint of another besides its fumbled words. But the phoenix spotted her. A young woman with long curling locks of chestnut hair draped over her white garments.

A pact? With a human? The phoenix hissed. How dare you taint our children with your filth!

Ariviaee cawed in agreement, finally spotting the woman not even a wing's length from the towering hound.

"Leave her alone!" the woman shouted, picking up her flowing gown and running to stand beside the hideous creature. "You know nothing of these creatures! Blinded by your handlers, your rage is misplaced! Leave this place! Begone!"

Ariviaee chattered, amusement apparent in its wild blue eyes. You think us creatures you can send away, human? We are protectors. Alleviating you of such griev—

"You're monsters."

Her voice is a quivering whimper. Tears fall, only to dry in the heat of the fires before her. Soft, fragile hands rest against the hound's bulging muscles. She barely reached up to the elbow of its forelegs.

There's a sharp pinch pulling the phoenix back. A hitched breath made it falter. It does not know where the feeling comes from. Why it's there. It only knows that something is screaming for it to leave the pair in peace. Continue on as if it saw nothing.

Ariviaee does not share the same feeling as the smaller phoenix charges forward.

Pain rises as the phoenix watches on. It fully expects the woman to be nothing more than charred bone. Her flesh melted at the touch of a licking flame while the hound was obliterated. However, the resounding boom that usually accompanies the sound of a dying hound remains absent. 

Instead, a wall of thick, inky fog unfurled, hitting Ariviaee and knocking the youngling farther back than where it'd started before its charge.

Bone slowly slipped from the roiling haze, a crown atop a small head. This creature is easily a tenth the size of the first hound. Two auburn strips of flesh are without fur at the back of its thick neck. Sharp black horns protrude from the skull's crest, reflecting bright scarlet light from the orbs resting in empty sockets.

This is undoubtedly a hellhound, despite its discrepancies with its siblings. The phoenix had never seen a hound with horns. One with visible scarring. One so small and fragile. But a strange sense of familiarity brushed over the scintillating feathers of the phoenix. It knew not when, but it had to have run into this creature at some point. The feeling of familiarity was simply too strong to say otherwise.

I request your retreat, the tiny thing murmured. Its voice was a quiet brook, gently flowing, carrying its words out to the listening pair with a gentleness not common amongst the hounds. I wish you no harm. But I shall not stand by as a sister is murdered by your kind. I beseech thee. Please, leave this place at once.

Phoenix, more oft than not, are arrogant creatures. Cursory judgments are made assuming that the great firebirds will always find themselves soaring above meek opponents.

Ariviaee is one such phoenix, blinded in its youth.

The newcomer acknowledges its decision to charge. Clouds surge forward, crashing out over Ariviaee. Even from where it stands, the phoenix can feel the oxygen being ripped from its sibling's blaze, staunching out its fire, all while the small hound stands calmly, not far off. The phoenix can do nothing but watch the younger screech in agony as it smolders out and dies, blue flames falling swiftly to nothing as its body disintegrates.

For a brief moment, the phoenix is transported back to a time when a wraith nearly caused the same disastrous fate.

It turns its bright gaze to the small hound, only now realizing that the wall of darkness is falling around it, carefully skimming flames that would meet the same death should they break upon its ebony surface.

Why spare me? The phoenix turns to look down at the small hound.

Red orbs shift, the creature backing away just so that it could meet the bright gaze of the firebird. To kill something once saved renders salvation pointless.

Curiosity sparks at the creature's words. Saved?

The hound dips its head. Yes, it replies, twin tails gently grazing dead leaves beneath their trajectory. It was not long ago that I rose you from the small flame left by my elder brethren. I cannot properly apologize for the suffering it incurred upon you, protector of man. 

Stunned is the phoenix as the hound turns to disappear into the fog once more. Wait!

The hound stops in its tracks and turns. I've saved you twice now, young bird. Do not make me regret my decision. Please, I beseech thee. Leave this place and its inhabitants in peace.

The phoenix screeches before it can turn once more, No, please do not leave. I wish-allow me a companion along your travels. Teach me-the differences you've given me. I feel them, yet I understand them, not. 

Skull tipped to the side, the hound seemed intrigued by the course of this interaction, seating itself in the nest of decaying leaves. Twin tails curling around its forepaws. You understand the wrath this decision shall provoke from your brethren? From your creator?

It understood what its decision would bring. But the phoenix didn't care. This was the savior it'd sought for over a century. A hound that saved a phoenix. Unlikely in every sense but a truth that beat in rhythm of the great bird's dancing blaze.

Please. Allow me a companion along your travels. Teach me of these differences. I care not what the others think. The consequences of this action.

The hound seemed to consider this for a moment. Then, standing back to its feet, the haze rolls away. Both the woman and the other hound have long since left. An observation the smaller barely cared to address. Instead, it gestures North.

Come, then, Bird of the Sun. Let us move forward with our travels. 

The phoenix flaps its flaming wings in elation, striding towards the small creature. The hound shakes its skull head and turns away, unconcerned of the deadly light behind.

Let me teach you the ways of free will.