Rogues and Pets vs. Dolls [closed/starting]

(Welcome Fading! you heartbreaking post almost made me cry! )

Rayden Thorn:

"If you don't mind me asking Rayden Thorn, what's wrong with you?" Reva asked sitting back on her heels. She was now looking at me out of the corners of her eyes, her pet was glaring at me darkly.

I had been afraid she would ask- it was eventually going to happen. Someone was going to ask but I didn't want it to be like this, not now. I smiled carelessly at her, hoping it was good enough to fool her.

“What's wrong with me? There is so much wrong, I wouldn't know where to start.” Some one walks over slowly and stops right next to me.

“Hey.” I look up, Seena is standing there shyly. My heart drops.

My sister is shy around me.- Oh God kill me now.

I stand up as quickly as I can, trying not to wince or groan.

“Hey, how are you feeling? They told me you passed out.” she shrugs refusing to meet my eyes.

“I'm alright, you?” I feel a lump in my throat. What would mother say if she saw the two of us reduced to parlor conversations? I take Seena's hand, her eyes flutter to mine.

“Can I talk to you?” then without giving her time to answer I drag her, limping to the edge of the camp- out of earshot of the others.

“Alright, you have questions, go ahead, ask them. I'll not hold back form you Birdy.”

...


(Alright Vuzzy! Your turn!)

Keradon

I sit in a plush armchair with my feet up on the desk, stroking Reshes fur just behind his ear. He's making a little purring noise in his throat. I am beginning to get bored. The over-stuffed room and rich atmosphere are beginning to make me sick. Aire sure does think a lot of himself. I think boredly. All these flashy posessions. Perhaps he's compensating for something? Probably has an inferiority complex.

Just then the door opens on oiled hinges and Aire himself walks into his office, nursing what seems to be a bloody nose. I see things went well with that Niya girl. I wonder if he killed her? The idiot still hasn't noticed me sitting in the room. He was buisy pouring himself a glass of wiskey. I roll me eyes and make an irritated noise, standing. Aire jumps, nearly toppling over and loosing his grip on his whiskey. He spins towards me fear plain on his face.

I sneer. "Coward." I spit. Resh makes a growling noise that most would assume is threatining, but was actually him laughing.

Aire straightens. "Keradon." He says, nervousness heavy on his voice. "What a... pleasant surprise."

"Uh huh, sure." I say, waving away his forced compliment. "Do you know why I'm here?" I ask, walking over to him. I pick up the whiskey bottle and gently swirl the amber liquid inside. "Hmm?" I ask when he doesn't respond.

"No." He admits, and I can see how he hates not knowing. "I assume it has to do with the near riot in the city today."

I nod. "Partially. You see," I say, setting down the bottle and directing my gaze at Aire. "You handed over several very, very dangerous Rogues today. Including, but not limited to, Reva Airdronac, Rayden Thorn, Davnick Tarish, and Everlee Pond."

Aire visably cringes at the mention of Pond. "Th-the leader of that rag-tag group of rebel Rogues? So?"

I shake my head. "Idiot. That 'rag-tag group of reble Rogues' Is developing into a full out rebelion against the government."

Aire looks at me confused. "How do you know that?" He asks.

I roll my eyes again. I seem to be doing that a lot with this man. "Please don't insult my intelligance, or that of our glorious government, again. You may not live long enough to realize your mistake." I punctuate my threat with a glare. Aire is at least a head taller than I am, so his cowereing is twice as satisfying. He takes a swig of his whiskey, probably to calm his nervs. "Now, here's what your punishment will be."

He nearly spits his drink all over me. As it is he catches himself, and instead dribbles most of it down his front. He begins coughing voluminously. "P-punishment!" He stutters between gasps.

I pull a tissue out of my jacket and hand it to him, disgust twisting my face. "Clean youreslf up and calm down. Your punishment isn't all that bad. You will stimply be striped of all you posesions, titles, and properties, and banished from the city."

His jaw drops and his eyes grow wide. "But.. but... my titles... my properties... my... my money!?"

"Oh yes, that too. Did I forget to mention that? I assumed that fell under 'posessions'." Resh gave another growling chuckle.

Shamefully, Aire began to cry where he stood, untill his knees buckled. Then he cried where he sat. He began mumbling to himself, something about karma and that girl Niya. I sneer at the pathetic scene.

"Pull yourself together. We aren't taking your life." I stare down at the crumbling man. "I was going to say we left you your dignity, but you seem to have lost that already." I turn to leave, Resh climbing onto my arm. I scratch him behind his ear. Behind you. He warns. I pause and look over my shoulder. Aire is now standing, empty cup in hand, fine robes stained and ruined. He is shanking with rage.

"You. You spoiled, selfish excuse for an official! You dare to come in here and try to take away my authority?! Ha! You are nothing but a snot-nosed, ignorant, Rogue-born-!" He freezes, horror dawning on his face.

I glare at him coolly over my shoulder. "Rogue-born?" I whisper. Aire shrinks back, his eyes wide with shock. "Are you accusing me, of being a Rogue?" My voice is like a sword scraping ice; cold, hard.

Deadly.

"No! No sir!" Aire stumbles over himslef to say. I smile and I can almost see his blood freeze over.

"Well then." I say. Resh gives a growl as I turn to the cowardly, idiotic excuse for a human being. That Doll. As I turn, Resh shimmers and melds into his weapon form, fittng comfortably in my hand. "You would be right, Aire."

Before he can scream, I slash Resh upward across his chest, shearing his breastbone in two. I bring my axe back across his throat, and Aire falls to the ground with a gurgle. I watch him fall, no emotion in my eyes or heart. No regret tugging at my concious.

Nothing.

I bend over and clean Resh on the once fine robes that now adorn a worthless corpse. Resh shimmers back to his animal form and takes his place on my shoulder. Before I straighten, I pull a daggar from my sleve. Intricate carvings decorate the handle, twisting and curving into imaginary shapes. I slide it up my sleve and quickly make a cut across my forearm. The pain doesn't bother me anymore; I'm long since used to it.

"I hate when you do that." Resh says, wincing.

"I don't care." I respond, standing. I turn to walk out. "Now. Let's go find our Rogue friends."

(Okay, that turned out more awesome than I had anticipated... but Keradon is still a jerk I swear. Albeit and awesome one.... Anyway, hope it's okay! Just say the word if you don't like something. (Or have an idea how he meets the rest of us, because I'm clueless.))

Keradon is horrible Razz! I love him! And sorry for missing the writing fest last night guys, I got a car! =D

Reva

I watched Rayden and Seena go to the edge of the camp and stood up myself, going to the other side, to Everlee. If anyone other than himself knew it was her. Besides, I had bought food while we were in town and that needed to be spread between us. "Here," I said, holding out the food. There were several loaves of travellers bread and even more of all the other essentials.

She took it, and smiled at me. "Thanks Reva." She told me and turned.

I caught her elbow and then immediately released when she turned to look at me. I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. For hurting Darren, you have every right to kill me for that. But I didn't mean to hurt him, I thought I was protecting me and mine. I was fighting Dav, after all. He is fairly insane in battle and I feared that you were on his side. So I am sorry." I spit out and ducked my head, not wanting to see the anger that was probably tightening her features.

Seena

“Alright, you have questions, go ahead, ask them. I'll not hold back form you Birdy.”

I wait, trying to think of how to word my questions. RayRay waits. My big brother, the one who never came for me, stands in front of me, waiting for me to ask him why. Yes, I had more questions. Where has he been these past eight years? What happened to him after he ran? Why was he playing his guitar for money? What brought him to that city? Did he ever think of me? Did he miss me? Did he ever plan to save me? But the question that had been burning on my lips since I first saw him was why. Why, why didn't he come to save me? Was he too afraid? Did he not love me? Did he not miss me? Did I mean anything to him?

RayRay still waits. I open my mouth, but can't seem to bring the courage up to ask him. I close my mouth and take in a deep breath.

"Why didn't you come?" I demand.

Everlee

"I'm sorry. For hurting Darren, you have every right to kill me for that. But I didn't mean to hurt him, I thought I was protecting me and mine. I was fighting Dav, after all. He is fairly insane in battle and I feared that you were on his side. So I am sorry."

She waits a moment for me to be angry.

"Wow, she's got guts," Darren says in surprise.

You don't blame her, do you?" I ask.

Darren shook his head, trotting up next to me. Of course not, he says gently. It makes sense that she would attack me. I was the one stupid enough to get in between her and Davnick.

I chuckle in my head. No, you got in between her and me.

Then maybe you were the stupid one, Darren says with a joke.

I smile. "Reva," I say. "I don't blame you."

Reva looks up in surprise.

"You were only trying to protect yourself. After all, all is fair in war," I say.

(I missed Davie... so here he is!)

Davnick

I wake slowly, luxuriously. My eyes flutter open to a sun well on its way to setting. Sheara is still curled up next to me asleep. I carefully make my way out from under her. Something white is crushed between us, and I'm surprised to see that Poca has curled into a small gap between Sheara and I. I smile at the little fox, and pick her up gently, setting her near Sheara. I stand up, stretching. I feel my back pop in three places and I sigh.

Before I make my way into the main camp, I remember the popy Sheara had given me. I pull it out of my pocket. It's a little wilted, but I lay it next to Poca's head. I smile at the two, who have somehow managed to soften my iron heart. I turn towards the camp, refreshed and ready to help somebody.

Sheesh. A week ago I would have checked myself into a mental instituion if I had thought something like that. What a difference a couple days make. Everybody seems to be doing their own thing. Seena is off at the edge of the camp... talking to her brother. My face stings just looking at him. Everlee is talking to Reva, and Jared and Elise are off in a corner holding hands. Tess is nowhere to be found.

Probably looking for fire wood. I think. I look around and realize nobody has dug a fire pit yet. I take off my jacket and roll up my shirt sleves. Let's get to work.

(That would be my shortest post ever. )

(Davy is so sweet it makes me want to cry in happiness! <3 <3 <3 )

-Sheara
I woke up, the warmth that had been against me was gone. The place where Davy had been was empty, save the flat area of grass. I smiled when I saw the little poppy flower lying next to Poca. I carefully picked up the flower, trying not to wake up Poca. I looked toward camp, and could see Davy digging a big hole in the ground.
I wonder what he is doing...

I yawned and streched, rubbing the sleep from me eyes. I looked up at the sky and put my hands on my hips.
It's going to be a big day today! I can feel it! I smiled to myself. It was time to start plan BE-USEFULL, and I was going to start with the first person on my list: Davy!

I ran forward then jumped, launching myself into the air with a little, quiet tornado. I latched myself onto the branch of a tree right above Davy. I then swung my legs around the branch and let the rest of me fall forward. I stopped myself just in time from smacking into Davy's face.

"Good morning Davy!" I said cheerfully, grinning at him happily. He jumped back a little in suprise, then laughed and smiled.

"Ha ha, well good morning, Sissy! Why up so early?" Davy dusted off his arms.

"I always get up early, I'm too excited for the adventures of the day to sleep in!" I looked down at the hole he was digging.
"Davy...why are you digging a big hole in the ground? Are you looking for something?" I asked, curioulsy examining the ground right below me.

Davy laughed.

"No, I am digging a fire pit so we can cook breakfast." An idea sparked in my head.

"Oh!! Can I help? I can get food-eggs! Yes, I can shoot myself up ontop of trees and find bird eggs to cook! Oh, did I ever tell you one of my powers is wind? Oh, and don't worry, I put little stones in the bird's next so they won't miss their eggs!"

(sorry for shortness...I'm a little low on time, I'll try to post longer next time!"

Davnick

"What?" I ask the upside-down Sheara head in front of me. "Why would we have eggs for dinner?"

She looks at me, confused. "You said breakfast..."

"Oh, oops. Sorry Sissy, I misspoke. I meant dinner." I looked at her apologetically.

Her brow knit in concentration. "But the sun is rising..."

I smile at her. "Actually, it's setting... we went into the city this morning." Her eyes grew wide in understanding.

"Oh okay, I see. Anyway, can I help you with the fire hole?" I laugh at her new name for the fire pit.

"Sure." She begins to help me dig. She's a good little worker, doing exactly as I say. "Make sure it isn't too shallow, and that it's wide enough." I warn. "And the bottom should be even. That will help it burn evenly, and cook the food easier."

She nods. Just then Poca walks up, yawning. "Good morning." She says, mouth open wide. "Are you...two digging-a fire...hole?" Sheara and I burst out laughing. "What!?" Poca demands.

"Nothing!" Sheara gasps. "It's just night time." She says. Poca flushes a bit.

"Oh... well then.. good-evening." I laugh again.

"Hey, thanks for the flower Poca. I really liked it." With that, she turned scarlet. She looks just like the popy she gave me! I think about to crack up again. I tell her as much, and she turns so red it's almost purple. Sheara and I are laughing so herd, we are rolling on the ground.

"What's so funny?" I look up to see Tess staning abouve us with an armful of firewood.

"Nothing." I say, whiping a tear from my eye.

"Well fine then, let's get this fire going! I'm starving!" She says, dropping the firewood in the middle of our pit. I sigh and get to work on it. My stomach is rumbling too.

Skylar:

I watched as Reva apologized to Everlee about Darren. I nearly forgot that she almost killed Darren, due to all the commotions going on. I walked over to Everlee after Reva left. I sit down next to her and take her hand.

"See, this is why I love you," I declared. Everlee's eyes lit up with shock and joy at the same time. I sighed.

"I know, how sappy am I?" I asked. Everlee shook her head.

"No! I'm fine with the whole sappiness," she exclaimed. I laughed then leaned in for another kiss.

Elise:

I was listening to Skylar and Everlee's conversation and rolled my eyes. I fell asleep and woke up after about five minutes. I stood up an began looking for Jared. Where the heck is that boy?

Enjoy you're nap? Myrtle asked.

No, I feel like freaking crap, I answered.

Watch your language Elise, Myrtle warned. I rolled my eyes and approached Tess, who was yelling at Davnick about a fire.

(Hope this is okay!)

Everlee

"No! I'm fine with the whole sappiness," I say. Skylar laughs and leans forward, putting our lips together. I pull away after a moment, smiling to myself.

We are quiet for a moment. The sun is setting as the day comes to a close.

Only two more days, Darren says to me.

I know. I feel Skylar's comforting hand in mine. We don't have much time.

Darren too, is quiet for a moment. I'm left to think to myself.

What's wrong? Darren asks, although he already knows.

I sigh. I'm just wondering if this is the right idea.

Of course it is, Darren says from the opposite side of the clearing. He's curled up, but with his head propped up, looking at me.

But we could die. The thought of losing anybody in this group, especially the hand in mine, brings tears to my eyes. I blink them away. There's only so much time.

"I love you Skylar," I whisper.

Skylar smiles and looks over to me. "I love you too," he says. He sqeezes my hand comfortingly.

I wont let him die, I vow.

What about the others? Darren says with encouragement.

Them too. I wont let anyone die. I say. They will take my life before they take anyone else's.

(Hope this was okay. I'm trying to get Everlee to be a better leader. She's working her way up )

Jared:

I skipped through the trees, looking for fruit. Elise looked so hungry, I couldn't wait for everyone else to wake up. I already had lots, and I was making them float next to my head.
i skip again, but my foot slips and i fall to the ground. I hit it with a thud. "BLARGGG!" I shout. I look up, right at shoes.
Elise's shoes.
Great.
I stare at her with wide eyes. "Oh! Hi El-" I'm cut off as the fruit I was carrying falls and hits my face, splattering, and then slowly dripping down my forehead. Elise giggles and i smile, too, through the fruit.

Tess:

"No! No, no, no! That's not how you do it! You do it like this!" I shout getting down on my knees and began to dig the holecorrectly.
"Tess, I'm pretty sure I-"
"You know what? Why don't you go get firewood, Davnick and let me handle this before you completely destroy any chance of eating before the end of the year!" I glare at him.
That seemed harsh. Nyx said.
What? I get grumpy when I'm hungry!
Sheara looks upset that I shouted at Davnick, but I ignore her and keep digging.
"Tess... Calm down." Everlee said.
"Calm down? Calm down? YOU CALM DOWN! I AM COMPLETELY CALM!!!!" I shout back.
Everlle looks at me slightly afraid. Then she turned to Davnick. "Maybe it's best if you listen."
Davnick rolls his eyes and gets up to go. Sheara is about to follow, when I shout, "Oh no! You!" I point to her, "You stay right here!" She stares at me for a moment, sits down and hides behind her hair. i kind of feel bad, but I'm so irritated and grumpy and hungry that I'm not really listening to myself.
Davnick leaves and Everlee walks over and hands me a bag of muffins. I grab the bag greedily and eat quickly.
"Better?"
I nod and keep eating, looking at the ground in shame.

(brighter! This is your chance to tackle Davy! Hope it's all right! I just like writing about people yelling at other people. Tell me if I need to change anything! )

Reva

After I apologised I left Everlee with Skylar so that they could have their little moment. The day I was that smitten was the day Darsor could eat me. It was good for Everlee, but not at all my style. So instead I went over to Darsor, who was still angry. I stroked his silky fur with care, gentle and caring, as he liked it. How are you feeling this day?

Furious.

Furious and weak or furious and strong?

Strong. I am never weak.

Is that so?

Yes.

Well then you won't mind practicing with me.

Yes. Let us show that fire rogue what true light can do.

I grinned at him. Including the move that weakens us?

His golden eyes widened and he looked at me in shock. Why do you want to practice that? It could kill us! It almost did last time!

Last time we were in battle with Davnick, and we didn't even complete the move.

Exactly! That move is not meant to be used! Not ever!

We can Darsor, I promise we can. We simply need to practice it a lot in the next two days.

We have two days, we need to be saving our energy not wasting it!

Please?

No!

Coward. I commented as if it really didn't matter and went off to apologise to Sheara for man handling her yesterday. Once I ignored him for long enough he would give in, he always did and besides, she deseserved my apology, I mean she was dragged around for miles invisible.

Rayden Thorn:


"Why didn't you come?" Seena said to me her voice barely a whisper but her eyes were full of accusations. I stared at her as I felt my heart shatter.

"You don't think I tried?" I said my voice hoarse and choked. she looked up at me and here eyes told me her answer-Oh God.

"I never stopped trying to find you, to get to you Seena!" her eyes brimmed with tears and I felt my own well up.

"I never stopped trying to find you. I went to every goddamn garrison in the country! I went to every military office I could think of, I went to the capitol military library and looked thought all the books trying to find you. I even went to the military cemeteries- I didn't know if you had died!"

"But you could have been captured and killed!" Seena gasped.

"I had to find you no matter what, I couldn't give up. I promised Mama I wouldn't!" Then it all came out in a rush.
"When I realized you weren't behind me when I ran, I went back to the house. Papa was dead and Mama- she died in my arms." Seena gave a little choked gasp.

"Before she died she made me promise I would find you, that no matter what I would get you back." I pulled a small golden locket out of my breast coat pocket. On its thin chain along with the pendant were two golden wedding rings- our parents.

"Mama wanted me to give these to you." Seena with a wordless sob took them and held it too her cheek as if trying to feel our parents.

"Mama also wanted me to tell you that she loved you more than anything, and that she was sorry you two didn't get to go Blueberry picking." Seena collapsed to the ground sobbing uncontrollably, I knelt down next to her and held her in my arms, I was crying now.

"I'm sorry I failed you Birdy. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

...

(Alright Vuzzy your it!)

I'm not sure where to go with this... It's so cute!

Seena

"I'm sorry I failed you Birdy. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

I sob on the ground, holding the necklace to my chest, as close to my heart as I could possible get it. RayRay wraps his arms around me. I can feel him sobbing too. Tears fall down my cheek and onto my hands. Blueberry picking. My mother had planned to take me blueberry picking as a special treat, just me and her.

RayRay, fail? Did I really believe that? Maybe I did. He hadn't rescued me. But he had tried. Isn't that all I can ask?

"You found me, didn't you," I whisper in between sobs.

"What?" RayRay asks.

I snif and lift up my head, rubbing my eye as I move. "You found me, you didn't fail." I smile, even through my tears. "I can't blame you for that," I whisper. And as I say it, I know it's true. I can't blame RayRay for anything. Even if I waited for him, he tried. I chose to turn myself in; RayRay never forced me. A sudden wash of regret flows through me. I shouldn't have ever doubted my brother.

"I missed you," I whisper, leaning back into him.

"I missed you too," RayRay whispers back.

(Vuzzy- I cried. XD)

Rayden Thorn:


"You found me, didn't you," she whispered in between her sobs. My mind went blank

"What?" I ask startled.

She sniffling lifted up her head and smiled a watery smile.

"You found me, you didn't fail."She said her lip quivering. "I missed you." she added snuggling down into the cook of my neck. I feel her tears run down the inside of my shirt, they sting as they hit my cuts but I didn't care.

"I missed you too," I whispered back my eyes welling up again.

A piece of my heart that had been broken and missing slowly mended itself, the guilt I had felt for eight years lessened, I felt lighter-joyful. I felt real joy for the first time since that day . I hugged her tighter.

"Thank you birdy." I murmured into her hair, she would never know what she just given me.

I don't know how long we sat there, but when I finally did come back to reality Seena had fallen asleep in my arms. I smiled. She used to do that when we were kids, we'd be out playing and she'd get to tired and I would carry her home as she slept. she wasn't eight and skinny as a rail anymore but she certainly wasn't heavy for me to carry. Slowly and as gently as I could picked her up in my arms, she instinctively wrapped her arms around my neck as I started walking back to the camp.

I got a few looks from Everlee and the Doll who she was holding hand with but I ignored them and set Seena down gently on the grass near the fire and covered her with my coat. Date flew over and landed on my shoulder.

"Feel better?" he asked cocking his head to one side. I chuckled.

"You have no idea." I picked up my guitar and strummed a few chords gently. the girl with the raven who was fussing around the fire swore suddenly- I looked up.

"What's wrong?" Everlee askes, Sheara answers.

"She can't get the fire started and Davies not back with the smaller pieces of wood."

"And I'm hungry for something hot!" the girl wailed.

I look at Dante and he nods.

"Um I think I could help with the fire problem." The girl looks at me eyes flashing.

"Oh you think you can make a better campfire!?" I set my guitar down and knelt near the pitiful pile of sticks, and I start arranging them in a squarish nest shape.

"Your doing it wrong! do you even know how to make a camp fire?" she almost roars in my ear- it amazed me Seena was still sleeping. I look at the girl challengingly- I wasn't going to let her ruin my good mood.

"I'm a fire rouge Sweet Cheeks! I better know how to make a damn camp fire!" Sheara let out a small gasp and I mentaly kicked myslef. "Sorry." she smiled a small smile.

"It's alright." then I called over to Dante when I was done with the "nest".

"Come on you, get these logs burning and I'll let you sleep in it tonight." I never saw him scramble into a firepit so quickly.

"Oh it's been ages since you let me do this!" he said as he settled and arranged himself among the logs. I looked at Sheara who was watching closely with a worried expression on her face.

"He'll be alright, he likes doing this." I said reassuringly. "Alright Dante light up."

Slowly flames began rising from his feathers until we could no longer see him- he looked just like a roaring camp fire. I settled back down with my guitar.

"Give him five minutes and then you can start cooking on him." I said and slowly started finger picking Seena's song.


....

(Alright I hope that works for you Vuzzy, I wanted to get them back with the main group. if you wanted something else please just tell me and I'll gladly edit!)

Davnick

I stare through a gap in the bushes at Seena and her brother, hugging and bawling. Jealousy burns in my chest. Not because of the hugging; They're siblings afterall, and it isn't that kind of hug. That is exactly why I'm jealous. I know a little about Seena's past, but even though I care for her in a way I never thought possible, I can't comfort her like that. And her brother, whom she hasn't seen since she was a child, can.

I leave the two to their talk, or cry, or whatever it has turned into. I wander aimlessly throught the woods, half-mindedly looking for good firewood. The junk Tess got wouldn't burn long, and would make a whole lot of smoke besides. My mind is sober, and the playful, happy mood I'd had with Sheara was gone.

I shove my hands in my pocket and sit on an old fallen log. I don't feel like walking. I can feel my body using energy to heal my earlier wounds, even though they don't bother me any longer. On instinct I run my sonar. No matter how much a week changes you, I think. Your instincts will always stay with you. Was that true? A prior instinct I had had was to shun others so I didn't hurt them. Sheara and Seena had taken care of that one, and I was a bit surprised to find I was growing attached to this rag-tag team of Rogues and Dolls. Well... Doll.... There was Everlee, our fearless leader, in need of a confidence boost. Skylar, her kind-hearted partner. Elise, a powerful, if a bit shy Rogue. Tess, strong and blunt, to put it kindly. Reva, smart and caring, even if she tries hard to hide it. Rayden... a caring sibling, and fierce fighter. Tige, the wise counselor. Even Jared was beginning to grow on me, like green mold on an otherwise normal piece of bread. And then Sheara, loving to a fault, and sweeter than honey. And Seena... words can't decribe that beautiful, strong, intelligent... well, anyway. All of them-

Somebody is behind me. They are moving very slowly. I concentrate on them with my sonar. It's a girl, and she looks half starved. She has a bow on her back and a daggar in her hand. I can't tell if she is planning on defending herself or attacking me, so I decide to get it overwith. I stand.

"Listen, I know you're there, and I won't-" The girl launches herself out of the darkness with unexpected force, knocking me to the ground.

(There ya go Brighter! )