"April!" Derek exclaims, spotting her long-absent form climbing the grand staircase of the Vixen Temple. "You're okay!" "Hi Derek." She says and falls silent, shocked by the warmth of the greeting that tumbles out of her lips. Despite everything, he is, after all, a guard of the Vixen Temple. She adopts a wary stance, attempting to cover up her indiscretion. Derek: "Where's Emma? Is she alright?" April: "She and Amy were attacked by sand panthers. She's resting - she'll be fine again in a few days." And after a short pause: "Amy didn't make it." "Oh no," Derek breathes, sadness sweeping over his face. April studies his eyes, looking for any sign of false compassion. But his eyes give nothing away; from all apparent signs, his feelings are genuine. April: "Listen, Katerina told me about Suzette. I'm really sorry." All sadness snaps out of Derek's face. His eyes fix on her, and suddenly she realises he too is studying her for signs of fake sympathy. Seeing none, he replies: "I hadn't thought about her in a long, long time. For years her death tormented me, crowding my every thought, twisting every emotion. Finally I realised I was in a spiral of self-destruction, stuck in time, obsessing over something I could never change. But all those feelings, all that pain, was brought back a few months ago when Lucistra returned." A scene from April's nightmare suddenly flashes though her mind: the terrifying sight of Lucistra standing over her, framed by a blood red sky. "Is she here?" she asks. Derek shakes his head. "Sinistra sent her away weeks ago, when you and Emma stopped coming back. She figured...well, she figured you were dead." April: "I almost was." "Listen," Derek says, suddenly alert, pulling her into the shadows at the top of the staircase. "I want to talk to you more, but we're running out of time: a patrol is due by here in a few moments, and I don't want them to find you. There's a new girl, her name is Simone. She wandered into the Temple just last night. She's quite young and, well, I think something happened to her out in the wasteland. She seems very sad, or anxious. I don't like the thought of her staying here and becoming a Vixen. I think maybe you can...help her." Determination sets into April's face. "Take me to her." Credits: Arizona by Dark_Whisper Michael's Changing Fantasy Suit from DAZ