“I had a disturbing vision last night and it concerns your family,” InuHaru said to Isabo.

She plopped to the ground, absent of her usual grace. It’s never good to hear those words from a mage. A couple of minutes ago Isabo was happier than she had ever been. How sad that just one sentence was enough to dissipate the feeling as simple as the sun eliminates the morning fog. The uncomfortable feeling that InuHaru gave her when he first sat next to her on that hillside was back.

“I wish I could avoid sharing this with you but the future is at a critical fork. Ignoring it would only lead to death and destruction. Isabo, your cycle has passed hasn’t it?” InuHaru blushed.  “I understand that it may be another hundred years before it returns.”

She nodded and also blushed.  Why would he ask such a personal question?

“There is no easy way to say this, Inutaishou will die in no more than ten years.”

“Impossible!” Isabo exclaimed. Every bit of her wanted to scream denial. “He is younger than you and very healthy!”

“He will be killed by a dragon,” InuHaru said. “I saw this very clearly. That means there is no way to alter his fate.”

Isabo’s breath was coming in ragged gasps. A cold feeling went down her spine as tears filled her eyes. The chill ran down through her hands that closed into fists on the ground, digging into the cool earth. Her beautiful face twisted with grief.

“If there is no way to alter the vision,” her voice cracking, “then why are you telling me? Wouldn’t be better to live happy with the time left to us?”

“What!!!!?” she shouted.

The children down in the field heard the shout and looked at the two adults. Isabo touched their minds and pushed them back to their activities. She didn’t want them to be part of this conversation.

“That’s impossible,” she said quietly.

“With you, yes,” he said, wishing he was not blessed with the curse of foresight.

“What are you saying?” her voice dropping to a threatening whisper.

“His son will be born from a human, a human he loves,” he said.

“A Hanyou? He must sire a Hanyou son?” Isabo was in shock. She knew that Inutaishou had never been unfaithful to her.

“How can he sire a son with a human that he is suppose to love? Inutaishou has always been true to me since we met. I’d know if he wasn’t,” she said.

“Yes, it is obvious that this son will never come to be if things remain as they are,” InuHaru said.

InuHaru was leading her. Trying to make her come to the solution herself. Trying to make it her decision. How does one tell a woman that she must leave the man she loves, hurt him to the point of bitterness so that he can move on and fall in love with someone else? And then there were the children to consider. He knew their time in this world would be as short as their father with the possible exception of Sesshomaru and now, hopefully, Akina.  She would never leave if she knew that.  She would never miss out on the remaining time they have together.

Isabo felt like her head was spinning. He wants me to leave Inutaishou, she thought. She knew his power. She had a touch of it too. Then unbidden, the dream returned to her. That nightmare she had a week ago: a vision of a river of blood, of Inutaishou’s torn and broken body in her arms under the sealed body of a minor dragon. His last words “I loved you first,” ringing in her ears as he died. Then a vision of a young baby with golden eyes, white hair, and dog ears held by a beautiful dark haired human girl, just old enough to bear a child. She had dismissed the dream as a horrible nightmare because she was too close to the story. Now that InuHaru confided in her, she had no choice but to face that it as a powerful vision. “I’ll lose everything that gives my life meaning!” That thought was spoken aloud although she didn’t meant it to be. She was openly crying now.

“I don’t ask this lightly, Isabo. I love all of you. I know what this will do to your family and your name. If there was any other way…,” InuHaru choked with sympathy and hugged her shoulders. “Inutaishou should be returning tonight. Spend one last week with him. Get away and make some memories. I’ll watch the children. The day he leaves again will be soon enough for goodbyes.” The old dog hugged her until her sobbing slowed, and then he kissed her forehead. He rose and started making his way back toward the woods. A young unicorn saw him and broke away from her brothers and sisters. She galloped to him and changed back into a six-year-old.

“Not today child,” InuHaru told her before she could ask. “Your father and brother return tonight. Your mother also needs you close to her. Ten days from now will be soon enough to be with an old dog like me.”

Akina nodded and turned toward her mother. She felt the damaged and sick aura that radiated off of her.

“Momma’s sick,” she said turning back to her new master. “What did you say to her?”

“Something she already knew but didn’t want to hear nor face,” he said back. “She needs you, child, go to her.”

With that, he entered the woods.

Akina turn and ran to her mother. She sat in her mother’s lap and hugged her. It was more than Isabo’s freshly build defense against the tears could stand. She hugged her daughter a bit too tightly but Akina said nothing. She just hugged her mother tighter and cooed to her as Isabo cried anew and rocked back and forth in sorrow. The rest of the children, released from their “push,” heard the sobs and ran to their mother. They were at a loss as to what to do. They had never seen their mother like this. The girls chose to hug their mother and tried supporting her emotionally. The boys just sat near and debated among themselves as to what brought this on.