The Whining Arrow

**When in doubt, add in a bear. ** **And Valor, without a bit of romance the story just wouldn't be fun. XD**

Thyme

I spun to face the new voice and saw Jaime. I cursed. What was he doing here? But before i could say anything else a loud roar broke through the forest, followed by a tremendous crashing. I spun to see a gigantic, hulking, black figure emerge from between two trees. It stood on four legs but as soon as it saw us it rose to two and roared again.

I cursed, grabbing my staff firmly in both hands and shoving Bella behind me. The huge animal dropped to four paws again and ran towards us, letting out another angry roar.

"Bella, when i say move, jump to the left." i said, my eyes never leaving the abnormally large bear. When it got close enough, i yelled, "Move!"

We dove to the side as the bear changed past. Bella landed in a small bush. I rolled to my feet, facing the bear again. It turned slowly, it's beady red eyes focusing on me. I raised my hand, letting a small bolt of energy hit the bear. It shook its head, growled, and started running at me again. I cursed, pointing my staff at it. This time a larger burst of energy shot from the dark wood, hitting the bear on the back. It roared in pain but kept coming.

I glanced over to see Jaime standing against a tree, out of the bear's line of sight. He was watching us intently, seeing what we'd do. I cast him a furious glance before turning back to more immediate, pressing concerns.

But the second i took glaring at Jaime was going to cost me. The bear raised a paw and swiped at me, tearing through my robe and cutting my chest. I gasped in pain and jumped quickly to the side to avoid being crushed by the huge paws. The bear spun to me again, but the pain in my chest was fogging my mind. Again, it charged. Again, i let out a burst of magic, making it catch fire as it hit the bear. A small patch of fur caught, but it did not stop. And, again, i was too slow moving. The bear hit me again, sending my sprawling a few feet away. I tried to roll out of the way but a sickening crunch and a searing pain blazing from my foot and ankle told me that I wasn’t quick enough. I cried out in pain, my vision blurring.

Another swipe to my chest rendered me on the brink of unconsciousness. I sensed movement to my left and feebly turned my head to see Jaime raise a hand and point it at the bear. A bright light shot from his hand, hitting the bear. It roared and swept back into the woods, lumbering away quickly. I closed my eyes and sighed in relief, letting blackness close over me, blocking out the pain.

Before Bella could reach him, Jamie was beside Thyme. He placed a finger on Thyme's temple and met Bella's angry gaze.

"If you move, I will kill him," he promised. How that he had a strand of Thyme's hair, he could effect him from a distance. An odd smile touched his lips. Without warning, he pressed his free hand into Thyme's wound. Dark magic spread into the traitor's veins, making him moan in agony. If he woke, his very mind would feel as if it was being ripped apart along with his body. The wound could be healed, but only an empathic healer could lift the spell that tortured his mind.

He stepped away then, just in time to avoid Bella's attack. She screamed furiously at him, but he dodged away.

"It's unfortunate you're so far from the fort. Robin could have healed him."

Then he was gone, taking off into the woods and returning to camp. They could make it--if they hurried. And he would know if his twin was among their number.

Bella

Angrilly, I moved to kneel next to Thyme. I could not stop the dark magic that flowed through his body--I was an empathetic healer, but hardly strong enough for this.

Instead, I began healing his physical wounds. The gashes across his chest were easiest. I placed my hands on the bare skin, allowing my magic to flow through him. Slowly the gashes closed, and the bleeding stopped. I moved down to his ankle and foot, both of which were obviously broken. I healed these as well, but it took a lot of magic. I was left with barely any magic, which I used to subdue Thymes obvious pain.

I turned to a rustling in the leaves behind me, prepared for another attack. Aedomir entered the clearing.

(I'm switching to first person..I do that alot.)

~Lunatheris~

I followed behind Aedomir. On the other side of the bushes Bella crouched over Thyme healing his injuries. I scoffed and got on Thyme's other side, helping Bella heal the enemy, whom she loved.

Robin

Robin leaned on the wall, sweat covering his brow. A twisted sickening feeling had suddenly come over him. It had passed quickly, but the memory of the sensation left him feeling weak. Something was wrong--they were taking much too long in getting back. He didn't dare ask the master of the fort if they had a mage capable of scrying, for fear of exposing them as outlaws. He breathed slowly, trying to clear his mind. If they weren't back in an hour, he would see who would come with him to find them.

Jamie
Jamie looked a the hair, turning it over in his hand. At the same time, he sent a wave of power through the connection it granted him, hitting Thyme with another blast of sharp pain. It was difficult to send power over such a distance, but necessary for him to keep in touch with Thyme and know his condition. He could feel Thyme emotions--he was in love with Bella. The emotion was not alien to Jamie, and he felt a moment's regret at risking Thyme's life. If he was wrong about Robin--and right about Bella's companions--Thyme would most certainly die.

Bella

After Aedomir had examined Thyme's injuries, which were mostly healed, we decided it would be best to leave as soon as possible. It wasn't safe where we were, especially if that other person knew where we were.

I walked, carrying Thyme to the best of my capability, even though it was difficult to use magic for such a long period of time.

Every now and again he would shudder in what looked to be pain -- and I would use what little magic I could spare to lighten the pain.

We were only a ways away from the main base now -- it was in sight, so we were making good time.

Robin

"I think I see something." One of the sentries said. Robin's head snapped up and he strained his eyes to see. The archers on the walls had pulled back their bows, ready to attack. It seemed like an eternity before Robin could see who it was. He let out a sigh of releif.

"It's them! Hold your fire!"

They finally arrived, and were quickly entered into the keep. Robin hurried down to report to Aedomir.
"I did as you said, we're welcome here for the moment. Our injured are in the infirmary and the others are resting."
Robin noticed that Bella was anxiously watching over a man he did not recognize. The healer's were trying to tend to him, but it seemed their magic wasn't working and even as they tried, he shuddered in pain.

In the same instant, Robin was overcome with that sharp sickening feeling once again. He stumbled, gasping.

ooc: Just so you know, if asked Robin will deny having any healing abilities and look a little panicky.

Bella

[i]"There must be something you can do!" I pleaded, watching closely. The healers were shaking their heads.

"No, there's nothing that we know of."

"Is anyone here an...um...empathetic healer?" I suggested, still not taking my eyes from Thyme. (If i had I would've seen Robin's eyes shift nervously). "I think they'd have the best luck..."

Caius

I walked up to stand next to Robin, watching the healers trying to work with the man on the ground. His dark blue robes told almost immediately that he was the enemy. So...why were we healing him?

Bella, on the ground next to the man, was looking distraught. Her eyes never left the man's face, which i found slightly odd as well...

I turned to Aedomir. "Sir, what's going on?"

Robin
Robin almost flinched when Bella asked for an empathic healer. Almost, however he was too busy using someone's shoulder to stay upright. Again, as Thyme writhed in agony--coming closer to waking--Robin felt sick. His wound had been inflicted by an empath, but Robin couldn't--shouldn't--have been effected!

As Caius approached his mind scrambled for an explanation and he stood up shakily, mumbling a thank you and apology to Aedomir, who he'd used for support. He looked at the fretting Bella and the ill Thyme, already able to discern with a minor sweep of his magical sight that the spell was an agonizing one--it wouldn't kill him, but his mind might snap under the pressure.

"I-" He began, but he stopped himself. No, he didn't want to. He remembered the last time he tried something like this. He'd died, in a sense. He shivered. He didn't want to feel that again, he was too scared.

Caius

I looked over at Robin while still waiting for Aedomir's response.

"Are you alright?" i asked, noticing the young man's nervousness.


Short! >.< Sorry!

Jamie

Jamie could tell Thyme would wake soon, his physical injuries were gone...and soon the pain would drive him to try and escape the prison that his mind was becoming. He would wake and he would start screaming. He could tell there were people trying to help him--that was the interesting part of Jamie's empathic ability. He was aware of the other's condition, and could send him power over long distances.

Much unlike Robin, she--or rather he, Jamie reminded himself--could only use his powers if in contact with the subject. And unlike Jamie, Robin didn't become 'aware' of the others condition--he felt every bit of it, sharing all pain, all sadness, all joy, and fear, everything the other felt both physically and mentally would be thrust suddenly unto Robin as his powers worked.

And of course, as twins, they always knew when the other used their powers--when they did the connection between them amplified. Sadly, the nature was the same. When Jamie used his powers, Robin would feel everything Jamie felt, as well as the nature of Jamie's spell. And when Robin used his powers, Jamie would know what Robin felt. In this later instance, the empathic power being strongest in Robin, they would both feel each other. So to be sure it was his twin, he needed his twin to use his powers.

Jamie smiled, it was about time Thyme woke up. He lifted the hair to the light and sent a new blast, this one more devastating than any before.

Robin
Robin turned to Caius and smiled shakily, knowing how pale he must look. "Mmmhmm. I just don't feel very well, is all."

Just then, Thyme's eyes snapped open and he screamed in agony, clawing at his own head. Robin fell to his knees, a sharp pain stabbing through him. Jamie. It had to be.

Bella

I watched the scene around me. Thyme woke up, and immediatly started screaming. I tried to calm him, tried so desperatly, but he would not calm.

Suddenly one of the others, Robin, fell to his knees as well, in obvious pain. I didn't know what was happening, but definitly seemed the two must be related.

Using all the magic i could muster, I began calming Thymes pain with it. I weezled my way into his mind to the best of my capability, taking in some of his pain and giving him some piece.

Caius

I watched helplessly as Robin collapsed at my side, almost the same time the man on the ground began screaming in pain. The sound was horrible, tearing into my soul. Even if it was the enemy, it still hurt to see someone in so much obvious pain.

Kneeling swiftly, i laid my hand on Robin's shoulder. "Are you alright? Robin, can you hear me? It's Caius."


Thyme

Pain. Unimaginable pain. It shot unmercifully through my body, soul, and mind. I couldn't think. Couldn't move. Could only claw with slender fingers at my head, screaming unendingly. Screaming...

A cool hand touched my forehead. Another tried to drag my hands away. A small presence entered my mind and set to work, relieving me of some of the pain. It helped for only a moment before another wave hit. I tried to push the presence from my head, tried to save them from the burning, maddening torture...

Bella

I felt Thyme pushing at me in his mind, trying to get me out. I refused, taking as much of his pain as I could handle.

The pain ripped through every fiber of my being...
...every bone...
...every muscle...
...until every part of me ached.

I did not scream.

I was focusing so much on keeping Thyme from the pain, and from digging at himself, that the pain was far from my mind.