Humanity is worth the struggle. Rena has protected the Fisher family line for nearly 200 years, through World War III and an zombie apocalypse, but they turned their back on her, dismissing her as a monster and a burden in a time of fear and isolation.  Rena swore an oath to never return on pain of death, unless her banishment was revoked.  Rena's oaths were the key to her humanity, she believed breaking them was a slippery slope.  Her only allies were Peter and his young family, who provided her with blood and she with protection.  Now with a winter spanning several years and the spread of sun-blotting cloud, Rena can remain on the sidelines no longer.  She must risk her life and return to the village she helped establish.  Little does she know, a vampire from her past has machinations to plunge her into a greater adventure to save all of humanity, before the encroaching Bleak can create a mass extinction event. This story takes place nearly 200 years after "Waiting For Sunrise" but differs in theme, genre, scope and style.  It is not necessary to read "Waiting For Sunrise" to enjoy this fiction.   Updates biweekly.  ~ Cover contains AI generated art.