CHAPTER FIVE
		         HIDDEN ONES           
                         
                        *snarl*

 The trip back to the castle was fast yet bleak.  Using his
link to Kishi, Ryu managed to get the five of them back to
the castle.  From there, though, he had to be assisted
inside by Hiko, Naosu quickly taking Aiko and Kiri to the
infirmary.  Once they reached the stairs, though, he felt
well enough to continue on his own.  As he went ahead of
her, she studied the aura about him.  Though she made no
mention of it to the others, she could literally "see" them
all--due to their energy levels--if she concentrated on
them.  Though, really, it wasn't much; just a simple
outline, telling her nothing more than position and height.
 He turned back now, and she read the flickers of impatience
within the field.  As she had been taught, auras were
different colors, and to read the shades and tints of one
was as good as being empathic, or even better.  It told one
moods, and showed flaws and strengths, if one bothered to
concentrate hard enough.  She smiled softly to herself and
followed, keeping a calm eye on the gray shape.  At the top
of the stairs, he seemed to quest out a bit, and then
rapidly moved down the hall, she coming after at a good
clip.  If he was surprised that she could follow him without
him taking up an object, he gave no sign, and soon they came
upon the set of doors that he wanted.  She sent out feelers
and found Arashi, Kishi, Jade, and the Prince within, and
sighed a little in relief.  She had been a
little...concerned...when she had not seen him again in the
calm after the rescue.  Of course, that disturbed her just a
bit, and the /Kage/ within her had not been pleased.  After
all, 'twas her duty to stay as placid as possible; "fire may
flicker, yet it always remains hot" was the proverb that
came to her mind.  It meant many things to many people, but
to her it was the absolute unchangeability of the core of
the flame.  The unchangeability she treasured.  
 Ryu moved towards opening the door, and then stopped, as if
unsure.  "Lady, I must advise you of something," he said
lowly.  "The Prince is...different."
 "As are we all, Lord Ryu," she replied carefully, part of
her mind still touching feather lightly upon the presences
within.
 "Yes...well, you have been warned," he replied, then opened
the door.  Swiftly, he led her through a barren room, and up
into a place where shadows and sun competed for supremacy. 
She uttered a small gasp as the FEEL of the room swept over
her.  There was...incredible magic here, of a wild and
untouched type.
 "Where are Naosu and the others?" the Prince asked.
 "Infirmary," Ryu replied in a clipped voice.  Hiko cast a
puzzled eye on him, for there was something beneath that
voice which was...interesting.  She rekindled her aural
eyed, and Kishi came into view as well, his blue-gold aura
at a flared alert.
 "All of them?" the Prince asked, voice rising in a puzzled
growl.
 "Each took a dip in the Rush, m'lord Prince," he replied. 
"It was quite perilous, and none escaped completely without
injury.  Also, Naosu has to treat them."
 "True," the man muttered.  She squinted at the form that
threw his voice, for not only did he wear a dark cloak but
shadows as well.  She brushed these shadows with her mind
briefly, and found them connected loosely to him via medium
strength spells.  No...that wasn't right.  She knew this
spell; it was actually rather strong.  However, something
was eroding these spells--perhaps the light in the room. 
But that shouldn't...she shook it off.   she
promised herself.
 "So, what of the Princess then?" Arashi swiftly asked,
voice angry.  She shot her a look, but the dusty woman
standing nearly within the flare of Kishi did not catch it. 
"She's missing, and she must be found."  
 "I could not agree more, Lady Arashi," the Prince said. 
"It is...dangerous to have her in these woods."
 "And even moreso now, my Lord," she spoke up, moving away
from Ryu.  "Today's disaster at the Rush was no accident."
 A brilliant flare of red caught her eye, as someone's step
into the room caught the others, and she glanced at it. 
From the outermost balcony came Jade, something within his
hand.  She flicked to normal vision for a moment, and saw it
was the shape of a red, red rose.  She flipped back and
examined the power within the item, and found it complex and
diverse.
 "Any luck?" the Prince asked him.
 "I feel her, but cannot find her--it's the woods," he
sighed.
 "You've never had that problem before," Ryu said quietly,
and Jade smiled slowly.
 "Perhaps because he cannot use it," Hiko intervened
quickly, her voice low and tinged ever so lightly with
power.  A breeze came through the room from the still open
balcony doors, and all eyes fell to her.
 It was at this time, as she carefully composed herself,
that she realized what a mess she was.  Her hair was limp,
damp, and matted from running as the wind; her arms and
sleeves tight and soaked from the spray and helping Aiko. 
Mud and gravel stained her legs and feet, and therefore the
carpet of the room.  Yet she needn't have worried, for
though all eyes caught her dishelved form, the power of her
glossy purple eyes drew them away.
 It was silent for moments, as all took in the woman who was
so regally dishelved.  Finally, Kishi asked, "What mean you,
Lady?  Jade is proficient in what he does.  Why, in the
beginning, he tracked us..." he stopped as Jade touched him,
the smile flickering over his aura/face.
 "She's right," he said quietly.  "I am not as attuned to
Serin as any other would be--right Lady?"
 "Yes.  Your bonds are with these others, as mine are with
Serin and her ladies.  Should I take the rose, I might be
able to find her."
 "Excellent idea, Lady," Jade said.  "If I may accompany
her..."
 "One moment," Ryu replied.  His aura turned towards her,
power radiating out as if seeking to quell any resistance
that might be there.  She gave him none but a slip of a
smile, a warning to him that he apparently got due to the
flicker of gray.  "You said the river incident was no
accident.  Why?"
 "I had meant to say something about that," the Prince
muttered, and she gave him a small smile as well.
 "The reason I said such was because of the sudden feeling
in the area.  A very dark power...I felt it..." A shudder
rippled over her frame, ever so slightly.  "It was
completely malicious, dangerous, and set on causing
problems."  She paused for a moment to let the chilly memory
recede.  "Now, if I may?" 
 "Yes," the Prince said curtly, and she followed the rose
outside.  Once there, she gave a tiny gasp; they were high
above the ground, and one could see all about the grounds. 
The sun's rays were dampened by some afternoon clouds, and a
breeze swept across the land.  Despite herself, she
shivered.
 "Are you chilled, Lady?  Your clothes are soaked," Jade
asked quietly.
 "It will not matter once I am seeking, will it?" she said
as lightly as possible; however, she sensed that it fell
flat to him.  "I will be fine," she added quietly, and
reached for the rose.  They made brief, almost electrical
contact, and she quickly pulled the rose close and turned to
the outside world.  She moved until the edge pushed against
her ribcage, and then closed her eyes and focused upon the
rose.
 Immediately the power rose to her call, though she found it
was only a fraction of what the object was capable of.  She
swiftly intertwined her familiarity with Serin with its
seeking power, and quested out.
 Things went fine for the first few minutes, and she found
the Lady's trail.  Quick flashes of what had happened ripped
through her head, and she followed them through the day,
watching her Lady with growing concern.   she thought, taking one
precious second for herself before unfolding the rose's
power all the more.  It responded easily, and soon the
flashes blurred.  
 Until she was blocked.
 She had just watched Serin dismount for a moment when a
barrier slammed down, breaking the connection.  Completely. 
She unfolded yet more power, pushing more of herself against
the barrier; it would not budge.  Now her infamous Martian
temper was springing up, and it supplied her with hot ki. 
Had she been Sailor Mars, she could've opened a channel for
even more to flow.  Yet she dared not risk such a bold
maneuver, especially since she dimly knew that Jade was
there.  So she attempted to slip about it, or pick its
surface, exercising more finesse in order to work.  The
rose, again, was surprisingly helpful, allowing her to
handle her more much more skillfully than normal.  She
seemed on the verge of breaking the boundary...
 *Leave us, NOW!* slammed into her head.
 She let out a whimper of mind pain, and suddenly found that
/Kage/ was rising.  "iie," she whispered.  "IIE!" 
 Despite her protests, she felt the power beginning to take
hold, even as she backed off.   she recalled, 
 There was thing she could do.  Slowly, almost painfully,
she let go of the rose.
 The mental world snapped off, and in the real one she
staggered backwards, crying out softly.  The rose, the first
thing to unblur, hung in the air before her, power tucked
away inside it once again.
 "Lady?" asked a voice, and she half-jumped in surprise. 
Quickly she realized that it was only Jade.  Her body was
shaking, and not just because of the sudden chill about her;
within, /Kage/ snarled at her before fading away.  She
hugged herself, eyes down, attempting to generate a little
heat.  It wasn't too successful, for her teeth began to
chatter, and she found her wet clothes even worse than
before.
 Suddenly, a patch of gray appeared in her vision, and it
warmly settled upon her shoulders.  She clutched at it, and
looked for Jade's aura; it was very close, close enough to
touch her, close enough for her to taste its power.  She had
the feeling he was regarding her very solemnly; the jacket,
she swiftly realized, was his.  She pulled it closer, noting
the style and red trim, and deciding it was quite sharp. 
And with his jacket came other things--the scent of him, a
very warm note; and she found a blond hair, short, upon the
shoulder.  As well, it gave her his dimensions, which she
swiftly measured to be of a slim, healthy male, fairly good
shoulder breadth, with a near V shape.  
 "Warmer?" he asked, voice teasing her ear.  She nodded
mutely, and felt him move away, plucking the rose from the
air
 "You have quite a power, Lady Hiko," he said, turning the
shape within his fingers.  "I find that...interesting."
 "As I said, Lord Jade, training," she replied quietly,
voice a little dark; /Kage/ leftovers.  It seemed to faze
the man none at all, and she was surprised.
 "Ahh, yes.  Training."  His word carried a sarcastic lilt
not lost on her.  "So, did you find her?"
 "Almost." 
 "Almost?" he asked, half wondering, half sarcastic.
 "I was blocked, m'lord."
 "Same as this afternoon?" he asked, voice softening a note.
 "No.  Benevolent, but insistent."  She touched her head,
and sighed.  "I will have a headache later."
 "And several illnesses if you don't change soon," he added. 
"Come on, let us tell the Prince what you have seen.  He
will be wanting to know."
 "A moment," she said, pausing.  She began to shrug off his
jacket.
 "No," he said, gently brushing it back on, touch powerful
yet soft.  She stared at his outline once more, and could
sworn he smiled.  "I have many like it."
 So he moved away, and she took a breath and let it out in a
shuddery way.   she stopped herself, completely chopping
away the chain of thought, taking another breath to calm
herself.  Reverting her face and posture back to coolness,
she followed him in.
 The remaining people in the room--Ryu, Kishi, Arashi, and
Prince--had clustered together about the middle table.  Jade
immediately joined them, and the Prince looked over to
him...she stopped, swiftly swallowing her cry.  For the
Prince had removed his great cloak, and therefore stood
there in his dark, flaring silks with hands, head, and feet
exposed.  At her entrance, Arashi looked up, and gave her a
delicate smile.  "It takes some getting used to," she said
simply, and Hiko nodded her consent.  Cautiously, she made
her way over to them, sliding in next to Arashi.  Here she
was in a relatively comfortable position: next to Jade and
Arashi, and across from the Prince.
 Upon the table was a three dimensional, golden form of
Serin, fingers moving swiftly.  However, the longer she
watched, the lighter the gold image became, until it became
but a fine mist of features and movement.
 "What did you find?" the Prince asked finally, not looking
up.
 "Her general location, my liege, but nothing beyond that,"
Jade replied, "and no contact was established either."
 The Prince growled low in his throat, startling both her
and Arashi.  Both quickly regained their composure, yet the
movement had been noticed.  Ryu's gray aura had darkened
quickly, probably with the impatience his years of
accustomedness would generate.  Kishi's blue-gold field
wavered towards reassurance for Arashi, something which made
Hiko blink twice.  Jade's also acted to reassure her, though
without the same hesitancy of Kishi.  She felt the quick,
comforting brush, and did nothing in reply; he had already
seen too much of her power.
 "Where can this blocking be coming from?" the Prince roared
out, slapping his furred hand upon the table, causing the
image to wink out.  "What could be causing it?"
 "I know not the answers to your questions, m'lord," she
responded, "but I can tell you this--it is not the
malevolence of before.  It is, instead, some force which
takes offense to being watched.  That is the scope of it."
 "Some benevolent force, you say?  But what could turn aside
the magic of the rose?" the Prince wondered allowed.
 "Especially, I must say, the rose combined with Lady Hiko's
power," Jade added.  "She worked very well with it,
m'liege."
 "Hmm...Lady, you said you had a general direction.  Do you
recall it?"
 "Of course, Lord Prince.  She took the outermost trail, and
at last point was," she briefly closed her eyes, "quite a
ways down it, some 3000 yards or more, I believe."
 "So much for such a little time," he muttered.  "Her horse
must be closed to taxed by now."  He moved away from the
table, towards the formal perch in the corner of the room. 
"Ryu, have my horse saddled with provisions.  I am going to
retrieve the Lady."
 "Are you sure, Sire?  What may be benevolent to her may
decide you a threat," Ryu replied.
 "Plus the malicious power already at work," Jade added.
 The Prince kept his eyes upon the perch, and it seemed as
if a curtain had been pulled away, for a black and ivory
bird of falcon-like features and hawkish size appeared
there.  He carefully brushed a finger across its head, and
tendrils of color crept from the spot, rivulets of life
running down the figure.  She stared, aghast, as the
powerful pulse of magic bloomed for a moment within the
room; Arashi looked to her with wonderment, she even feeling
its touch.  
 "I have a feeling I know this magic, my Generals and
Ladies.  This forest has been my home for too many years for
it to keep all its secrets."  He gestured for the raptor to
perch, and it easily moved onto his arm, talons finding
neither leather for perch no jesses for stability, and yet
staying, fixing all in the room with a keen look from its
deep blue eyes.  The Prince did not even wince at the
weight, nor the pointed talons.  "Besides," he added softly,
"night approaches, and she will be scared."  He turned to
them, adding, "And should I not make every attempt to find
her?"  Light returned to his eyes.  "Saddle the horse, Ryu. 
I am going."
 And with that, he left the room, Ryu and Kishi following;
she shivered in the breeze of their departure.  Arashi
turned to her, and gasped.  "Hiko, you're freezing--come on,
let's find you some warm wear before you catch your death. 
Then we'll check on the others."
 Just as they left, Arashi's arm wrapped about her for
warmth, she felt a light touch on her aura.  Looking back,
she caught Jade's red, and his words: "I'll meet you there."

*	*	*	*
 "My Lord, someone should accompany you," Kishi said as he
followed him down to the stables.  Ryu had gone ahead to
secure the fine dappled steed that the Prince took to the
woods, leaving Kishi behind to do the talking.  Both knew
that to go alone after the Lady was madness; the woman had
been foolish enough to go alone to try to reach those who
needed her.  Yet that was precisely what was causing
admiration to bubble within his chest, and what he assuredly
knew was on Endymion's mind.  This noblewoman, this lady of
some high blood, dressed herself in used clothing, and
saddled her own mount! She had tacked up a horse, no gentle
beast at that, with the same hands that gently sewed and
wove and made excellent table arrangements.  It had amazed
them all, yet the Lady Arashi had not seemed fazed in the
least.  It had made him wonder exactly WHERE these ladies
were from.
  he mused, 
 He stopped the thought dead, gritting his teeth.  Why, now,
was he thinking of Naru?  They had been just kids together,
just friends, just deeply in love with each other.  He
remembered the pain, clear as glass, when he realized that
his plans to marry her had been trashed by spells.  By that
lying witch woman who stand of evil...
 But why think of Naru, after all this time?  It'd been
years since he'd recalled her, years since her sweet face
shadowed by that red crop of hair appeared within his mind. 
Yet, why now?  Was it the missing Princess, or something
else?
 He was faintly disturbed by that something else, and once
again clutched the brand of Naru's pain to his heart.  So it
was this way that the pair eventually came to the stables,
the Prince never having replied, and Kishi desperately
clinging to the dull thorns of the past.
 Ryu waited, holding the horse's head, eyes afire.  "My
Lord, your horse has been saddled and provisioned with
enough food for two days hard travel.  He stands ready and
willing for your journey."
 "Thank you, Ryu," the Prince replied, voice grave and eyes
dark and thoughtful.  Ryu moved away, and the raptor flapped
from the Prince's wrist as he mounted up.  He steadied his
seat, and then moved out past Kishi, bird following seconds
later.
 The man smiled.  Behind the Prince's horse, tacked up and
provisioned, were two dark geldings, quietly waiting for
riders.
 "If you ever deny your Ninja heritage, Ryu..." he
threatened with a smile, but Ryu did not smile back.  He
mounted his horse with an imperial air, one that Kishi
recognized as he leapt upon his own mount.  His horse
snorted at him, and Ryu gave him a dark glance.  "Careful,"
he muttered.  "These our are better geldings."
 For a moment, a bit of sheepishness flickered across his
face; that task had once fallen to he and Jade, and they had
botched it more than once before it had been taken over. 
However, he quickly recovered, offering but a nod back.  The
two of them carefully walked their horses from the stable,
and Ryu had them pause a moment so he could look out.  He
nodded back that the way was clear, and the two walked
outside, still cautious.  Endymion was canny; that was not
in doubt, and because of it they would have to be careful.
 "What is wrong, Kunzite?" he asked quietly.
 "The Silence follows us everywhere," the man replied,
adjusting a strap.  "Come on."  He nudged his horse into a
faster walk.
 "Who is going to tell, Kunzite?" he spat back quickly. 
"The horses?  Wrong breed, my friend.  The ground, the
trees, the air?  These woman may be powerful, but none is
grounded that way.  I know."  A bit of pain was in his voice
now; 
 Kunzite looked at him now, distaste plain on his face.  "If
we grow used to calling each other our real names outside,
there is more of a chance that we will slip in their
presence.  We cannot allow this to happen."  His eyes
darkened.  "Therefore, I am Ryu and you are Kishi."
 "Would it be so wrong for them to hear our names?" he
sighed as they entered the woods, horses now running at a
fast trot.  The dust told them both that this was a
sufficient speed to stay just behind Endymion's cantering
horse; after all, their purpose was to shadow and assist,
not appear. 
 "They would have an advantage over us, a hold.  You know
that there is magic in a name."
 "How can there be magic in our names?  They have been the
same since the Trek."
 "I do not have all the answer's.  That is Naosu's
department," he replied.  "I just know that there is magic
in the name--and, if these girls are from Topaz, then we'd
better be especially careful."
 "Ryu, what's wrong?" Kishi asked.  "I know that you're
trying to be careful, but..." he stopped, as Ryu shot him a
dark look, bringing a surge of anger up inside.  If he had
been Jade, this session would've been much more productive. 
Jade was, despite their difference in personality, the
closest thing Ryu had to a confidant.  It seemed this castle
inspired such odd pairings, for he and Naosu also had
developed a strong relationship.  But somehow...Jade had
managed to reach Ryu in a personal way, forming a bond with
the Head General that no one could touch.  The only problem
was that now the man was locked even deeper within himself,
until he availed himself to Jade's willing ears.  He stood
in the rain and cared not, he let himself go without
sustenance, he trained rigorously...
 "Ryu, please.  Trust me this once," he found himself
saying, drawing closer to him.  
 "It's not that I don't trust you, Kishi.  It's just
that...well, there are things on my mind that I wish to mull
over more before talking to...anyone.  Perhaps...perhaps..."
he trailed off, letting the man follow his thoughts.
 "Ryu, what could trouble you so much?"
 'That's exactly what I was wondering."
 The voice sent them both whirling, and in almost a panic
they halted the horses, the animals shouldering against each
other.  Prince, emerging from the shadows, gave them both a
grim look.  His dapple shook its head at them, and shame
pricked at them both.
 "My liege," Kishi began, but he raised a gloved hand for
silence.
 "You two need to practice your shadowing," he said. 
Scenting the air, he turned his darn eyes upon Kishi.  "I
would expect such from you, Knight of the Open," he said,
and a dark flash fell over the man's face, "but you, the
Gray Dragon of Shadow?  No, your training--especially in
those darker arts--should have told you more.  Such as the
need for muffling--your voice, your horses.  Perhaps, you
should remember as well that my ears are many times keener
than they had been."
 He straightened, and his horse pranced past both men, each
body crestfallen in its own way.  "I will find the lady on
my own.  You two will return to the castle.  Understood?"
 "Yes, my liege," both said quietly.
 "Good.  Good.  And if I catch anyone else shadowing me,
whether by horse or by air, I will see them as hostile."  He
eyed them both.  "Understood?" 
 "Yes," the replied, first Ryu, then Kishi.
 "Very well.  Carry on, then.  I shall be back, by latest,
tomorrow afternoon."  Without waiting for affirmation, or
even stopping to notice the incredulous looks they now wore,
he turned his horse back to the trail and set it into a
steady canter.
 "Anyone else feel like they were caught with a fresh tart?"
Kishi sighed.  Ryu looked at him, eyes almost agreeing,
before urging his horse back down the trail at a hard pace. 
Kishi sighed, and for a moment paused, eyes glaring up at
the sky.   he thought.    Then he spurred his horse back down the
trail.
 
			*	*	*	*
 Serin finally figured out well into the trail that she was
lost.   she thought quietly,
  Finally, she
came to a stop, and dismounted with a heavy sigh.   she thought, absentmindedly calming her
unfamiliar yet willing mount.  The horse had performed
remarkably for his unknown rider; but, then again, perhaps
she was thinking of the horse as a human again.  Arashi had
criticized her for it before, yet she could not help her
nature.  "Can I?" she asked the horse with a smile.  It
nudged her back, and she giggled softly.
 She looked about her now, and was mildly surprised.  This
really was a lovely spot: well-beaten trail painted with
shadows, summer trees heavy with leaves and flowers, and a
pleasant smell on the wind.  Yet she didn't feel easy here,
though to put her finger on it was almost impossible.  So,
still in touch with her mount, she called upon her soft
abilities and reached out into the woods.  
 The force of the forest seared through her brain, and she
took a few steps back.  A looming darkness seemed to spear
her thoughts, and fear surged within her.  When she next
came to herself, she was crouched on the back of her
galloping horse like a bug on a dog's neck, covered by a
silver glow.  As she pulled away, she blanched, for the
forest whizzing by her was much older, and much nastier.  As
she slowed, she noted the moss clinging to the tall, almost
twisted trunks, and less light was shed on the trail.  This
place, she realized, was so still...it felt dead.  She
slowed her horse more now, coming down to a walk, the animal
almost panting, foam dripping from the bridle and on the
coat.  In horror, she realized that she had impressed upon
it, making it run out of her fear.
 She halted the beast, tears coming to her eyes, and slipped
out of the saddle.  Her muscles had kinked from the clutch,
and protested her movement, but she ignored it to comfort
the horse.
 "My poor, unnamed friend," she whispered.  "What have I
done to you?"
 It stared back at her with its deep brown eyes, and such an
exhaustion of spirit overwhelmed her that she felt faint. 
Quickly she shielded herself tightly, and then let her
skillful fingers go at stripping off the tack.  She got both
bridle and saddle off, placing the saddle on the ground and
the bridle in her saddlebag; from this, she drew a lead
line, clipped it to the horse's bridle, and slowly cooled
the animal down.  By the time she was finished, she was hot
and unsatisfied, but knowing she had done all she could for
the animal, she let it graze while she sunk to the saddle. 
She had to avert her vision from it, though, because her
eyes could easily pick out the places to be curried, and
where the mane and tail needed brushing.  Finally, she
closed her eyes and thought of the fate that awaited her
when they found her.
  she thought ominously, and sighed. 
Either way, she in a lot of trouble.  She had taken off with
no protection nor supplies; furthermore, she had quite
nearly injured an animal of the Prince's, and may have
gotten the others in trouble as well.  She had let herself
get carried away, and in the process, she may have
lost...someone.
  she thought
sadly.  Her eyes found the darkening sky, and she shook her
head.  She didn't relish the prospect of spending a night
beneath the stars, especially as ill prepared as she was. 
She had no clue whether the nights were cold or warm, and
besides that, she had no food and no real survival
knowledge.  Furthermore, this older part of the forest gave
her the creeps.  She could feel the forest watching her, its
eyes peering from around trunks and in the branches; the
slowly darkening day gave her little hope as well.  
  she thought with a small shiver, pulling
her knees up to her chest.  She reinforced her mind blocks,
and took careful note of any places that seemed like good
bolt holes should something appear to be a threat.  Her
Princessly abilities, though fairly strong for the little
real training she'd actually had, would probably be
ineffective; she would have to let down some of her guards
for that, and the power of this forest was overwhelming. 
She slid from the saddle and slowly rocked herself, both
because it calmed her and warmed her, and because she needed
to feel safe.  Still, despite this comfort, tears began to
fall from her eyes, small shining tears that wet the dust on
her riding clothes and the ground.
  she thought softly.  
 Moments later, a squalling sound rang out through the wood. 
She nearly jumped through the circle of her own arms at it,
and quickly looked about for any signs of danger.  She could
see none.  Slowly, she lowered the very outermost layer of
her blocks, yet nothing menacing pressed her senses. 
 Yet, the squalling came again, and again.  She timidly rose
from her saddle, and furtively began to stow all she had in
the brush at the side of the trail.  It wasn't fun work; the
trees had blocked light off except to a particular brand of
spiky, tough plant that bit at her hands as she worked. 
Still, the cry came, and a fervency possessed her to both
hide what she had and find the source of that sound.  When
she came back to the road, she first went to the horse,
patting it and telling it softly to stay where it was. 
Then, she crept up the trail.
 The light above was dimming further now, the sky turning a
peculiar dusky shade. It was peculiar to her; the two of
them had been taking tea after a late lunch when Ryu had
come in, and she'd only been on the trail for maybe an hour. 
Yet, she also reflected that time was odd about the castle,
perhaps because so much magic had been imbued in it.  Things
darkened about here much more quickly than normal; it rained
far more than it should have.  Yet even this seemed a little
extreme to her, and she hoped it didn't mean rain.  It would
be a dreadful inconvenience at a time like this.
 The squalls had stopped for a period, and with them she had
slowed down.  Suddenly, they rang out just to her left, and
she jumped in fright.
  she wondered desperately as she edged
towards that side of the trail.  In her mind, she ticked off
the animal cries she had heard in her lifetime, and found
the list truly short.  Honestly, those of the Moon really
needed to get out more, or at least visit a forest like this
more often.  The gardens of her home, no matter how
beautiful they were, were not comparable to this rugged,
actual wildlife.  Despite her shielding, she could feel the
touch of it, throbbing with power just beyond her reach.  It
scared her, this power, and she cringed as a tentative step
on the grass sent a wave of it winging across her mind.  Yet
with it came another squall, this one rising on a note that
sounded painful, and resolutely she set herself.   she thought as her face turned grim,
brow furrowing slightly with concentration.  She trailed
through the woods like the ghost of some wrongly murdered
woman, a pale silver lining edging her form.  Her steps were
small, rapid, and fluid, and as she walked, her body
automatically aligned on the squalling, sometimes before it
even sounded.  Within four minutes time, she had arrived at
a crop of bushes that shook with the noise.  Briefly, she
wondered what kind of thing could make such a sound, and why
nothing else had heard it.  In fact, the forest held nothing
but silence, as if preceding death, or some great shock.
 Two silver hands reached out slowly, and parted the sticky
bushes.  As they did so, one more blast of sound went
out...and then again, silence.  
 Serin peered in, and her eyes widened.  Her silver glow
dissolved away, and a bird chirped loudly and off key.  A
wind rustled through the forest, carrying life with it.  And
two huge jewel eyes stared up at her from the body of a
young child.
 "Well..." Serin muttered.  The child just stared at her,
hands bawled in fists, blinking once or twice.  Its hair was
a neatly trimmed blond that fell in spiky lengths over the
ears; blue and brown swaddling were wrapped about it.  But
what held her attention was the eyes, those pulsating jewel
eyes.  They were a rich blue-green hue, tinted darker at the
edges, with no pupil to be seen.  
 The staring contest was broken when the child's foot
twitched and touched a thorn.  Immediately it let loose with
a cry that blasted Serin several feet from the bush.  All of
her fears fell from her, and she quickly rushed back to the
child.  "I've got to get you out of there," she whispered
softly to the child, reaching in.  The thorns that had
troubled the baby easy sliced through her clothing as well,
and she winced a few times as she pulled the child out. 
"Heavy," she murmured as she backed away, still holding the
babe.  From there, she took a few tottering steps, and then
fell on her butt.  The child gurgled almost happily as she
"oofed" and rocked a bit; however, one look into those jewel
eyes of his calmed her, and she smiled back down.
 "I wonder who your parents are, little guy," she whispered,
brushing back his hair.  "They must be worried about you."
 The child did nothing but smile, a sort of half secret
smile that told of mysteries.  A glimmer of light washed
over his blue eyes, and his fists opened.  Immediately, a
wash of tingles fell over her, and her eyes widened and
trembled.  Her view of him seemed to haze, and shift, until
she was looking at someone completely different, someone
human yet completely unlike any human at all.  
 Yet, it only lasted a second; she blinked, and all that
remained was the child, staring at her.  She looked him over
again, and now saw the dirt in his clothing and on his skin,
and the small cuts on his hands, arms, and exposed feet and
legs.  Sympathy softened her heart once more, and she slowly
rose, standing the child to his feet.  He tottered once or
twice, and she steadied him by taking his hand.  "Come on,"
she said softly, slowly walking with the child back out to
the trail.
 And the forest watched.

 The Prince slowed his mount from a canter to a trot, and
dismounted once again.  As the animal snorted impatiently,
he picked through the dust and found, once more, the tracks
of a cantering animal.  He sighed impatiently, and asked,
"See her yet?"
 "No, not a thing," answered the raptor as it alighted on
the cantle of his saddle.  "And the tracks?"
 "No change."  He stood back up, brushing the dust from the
tops of his pants, letting out a soft sigh. "Well, there was
some backtracking done...but most of her work was at a
canter."
 "Persistent creature, isn't she?" the bird replied,
preening its feathers. 
 "Yes," he replied quietly.  "She is."
 The bird looked up from its preening to study him with its
quiet navy eyes.  "Is that hope I hear from you, Endymion? 
'Twould be the delight of my eternal soul," it remarked
softly.  
 "It could be, Q'ar," he replied, using the time off his
horse to tighten any straps which needed so, and check the
reins, bridle, and bit.  Truthfully, it had been awhile
since he had been riding, and he needed to stretch the
soreness in his legs.  
 The bird sighed, a rather fluty, soft sigh.  "But you still
fell that she has no acceptance of your shape.  Pah! Does
she need to accept it to love you, to kiss you?  I think
not!" It puffed up in its feathers, and then added, "Of
course you know, if I had any power over the spell which
binds me to this form, I would've become the maiden to set
you free."
 "I did not know that."  He finished his work on the horse,
and looked to the bird.  "But you cannot, can you?"
 "Oh, don't sound so hopeful, Endymion," she replied, waving
a wing at him.  "This is my penance, and to be truthful, I
have grown accustomed to wearing this form.  Though I very
much hope I do not have the same taste for small rodents
that I do now."  She looked up, eyes even darker.  "And to
you, Endymion."
 "Shouldn't you be calling me Prince?"
 "I am not bound to the Silence, Endy," she reminded him. 
"And I am frankly shocked that you show no emotion at all
about this."
 "About what?"
 "About the fact that I am used to you, despite the fact
that my senses tell me you are a dangerous beast!" Her voice
shrilled at the end, and his eyes widened.  
 "I do not see what the point is."
 "Of course not.  And should you NEVER see what the point
is, you shall NEVER win your PRINCESS!" she huffed back. 
Turning on the cantle, she spread her wings, and leapt into
the air.  A few powerful strokes brought her into the sky,
with a shrill cry of, "Let's go, Endymion! See if that
riding jounces your BRAIN!" 
 He scowled to himself, and mounted onto the horse.  "Ya-
up!" he called out, spurring the horse forward.  A few steps
at a trot, and then a nice, sprightly canter, and they
continued down the trail.

 Serin wiped her brow with a piece of her sleeve, careful to
keep her eyes on the child.  Achingly, they had made it
through the woods back out to the road, where she had guided
the young one to her "camp."   she thought with a soft smile to the boy.  He sat
just in front of her on the road, playing happily in the
dust, throwing great handfuls up in the air.  She hoped it
kept him busy enough for her to go find some food, and more
importantly, water for the both of them.  Tomorrow she would
stay by the boy, hoping for his parents to come back to the
spot; if they didn't, she would saddle her horse and
carefully take the boy home.
  she thought, smiling at
the little one.   A frown marred her face.    She sighed, and
touched the beginnings of a headache between her eyes.
 Fortunately, at that moment, the boy turned back to her,
smiling and gaily throwing a fistful of trail at her.  She
smiled and ducked, the dust settling upon her clothing and
her hair but not in her eyes.  "What?" she cooed at him.
 He looked at her for a moment, blinking, eyes insanely
bright, and then answered her: "Hungry."
 It was her turn to blink now, and she asked, "Did...did you
just say HUNGRY?" 
 The boy blinked again, and repeated, "Hungry."
 "Oh, so you CAN talk!" she said joyously, scrambling over
to him.  "But...is that all you can say?" she wondered
aloud, and then scooped him up.  
"Where are your mommy and daddy, little one?  Are you lost?"
 He blinked once again, looking down at her arms, and then
at her, before repeating, "Hungry."
 "I guess not, then," she said.  "Well...all right.  Let's
go find you some food."  
 She rose, setting the boy down on his feet, and the two of
them began to make their way up the trail to find her horse. 
From his back, she reasoned, she could more easily identify
some of the food plants she knew--the wild berries, nuts,
and veggies of the forest.  She didn't recall their names,
but she knew them all well--she had studied them in order to
talk with Topaz of plant lore.
  she thought quietly, somewhat sadly.  Though the care
given here was excellent, each day she awoke to the grim
thought that this was one less day she had with her friends,
and just one day more in the eternity of her stay there. 
Yet, she had promised, and she would never lay the blame
against him; at least, so she believed.  However, she still
worried over her actions the day her Senshi left her.  
 She was pulled, literally, from her thoughts when the young
boy tugged on her arm.  "Food," he said simply, pointing off
the darkened path.
 "What?" 
 "Food!" he repeated, voice more urgent now, tugging her
again.  She stumbled a little after the boy, and he tugged
once more, nearly sending her tumbling and breaking contact
with her hand.  She took a few steps after him and looked
into the dark once more, and then began to laugh. 
 "No, no, that's not food," she protested gently.  "That's
my horse."
 "Food," the boy repeated, voice MOST urgent now.  He walked
towards the beast, and it shied away from him, into the
light, still munching on a mouthful of grass.  Again, he
walked after the beast, no trace of toddling in his steps,
saying, "Food!"  The horse pranced again, letting out a
small, irritated sound that the boy just ignored.  The
animal in turn swung towards Serin, giving her an evil eye. 
Quickly getting the hint, and realizing that there was a
startling uneasiness to the air, she swiftly went after the
boy.  She had to chase him around the road a bit as he moved
surprisingly well after the horse, which was clearly
becoming annoyed by this little insect.  Finally, with a
stern, "Come here!" she grabbed onto his arm.
 The world spun, changed, lit into a million colors.  The
boy stopped dead, and looked up at her...but it wasn't a
boy, it was a...just eyes, those glossy, deep eyes, jewels
in his head, glowing like crazy and staring straight through
her...
 And then, like that, it was gone, nothing but seconds
wasted.  She found herself staring down at the little one,
breathing hard, as he regarded her curiously.
 "It's not food," she said again, voice softer.  "I'm sorry,
little one, but...no, it's not."
 He looked at her, jewel eyes light with the reflections of
the stars above, head tilted just so.  She thought he looked
so cute, and yet so wise, in the same snapshot of time.  He
held that look of almost adult-like appraisal for a moment,
and then his face broke out into a joyful baby smile.  She
smiled back, and relief broke over the two of them.
 "Come on," she whispered gently.  "I saw some berries over
there...want to help me pick them?"
 The young boy nodded gleefully, and then of them made their
way over towards the bushes.  However, this did not stop the
boy from licking his lips as they passed by the horse.
 Fifteen minutes later, they sat on the trail again, Serin
sifting through the nuts and berries she and the child had
collected as he watched her curiously.  The stars were out
in full force now, and though the air was humid, only the
smallest of clouds lingered.  She picked out two more nuts,
and gave them to the child, who was already smeared with
berry blood.  
  she thought, shuddering at the image in her mind. 
Looking up again, she wondered why he did not play in the
trail dust once more, why he persisted in staring at her. 
It was like when Luna was mad at her, and she sat there on
her perch and stared at her for hours on end, the uneasiness
punishment enough.  
 The thought made her smile, and she ate one of the nuts
herself.  They were soft, and quite bitter, but they were
quickly filling both her and the child.  Besides, she knew
they weren't poisonous, though their name had fled her mind. 
 she thought,
giving the boy the last in her hand and starting on the rest
of the berries in her skirt.
 The child suddenly let out a swift sound, a soft "Goo!"
that spoke of happiness.  She smiled at him, but he caught
her eye and pointed.   she wondered, letting her eyes follow his finger.  
 The moon had come out now, its argent light having been
hidden by the remaining wisps of clouds and the thick trees
that they were near.  She looked up at it wistfully, and
automatically tears came to her eyes.  "Oh Mother," she
whispered softly, then looked back to her skirts, wiping her
eyes with one stained hand.  "Mother, I hope you're okay."
 When she looked up again, the child was staring at her, a
look most quizzical, almost worried, upon his face.  She
smiled and brushed her eyes again, trying to avoid the
questions that lay in his jewel eyes.  Yet, she couldn't,
and soon found herself telling him her story.  His face
shifted to a solid listening stance as she outlined how she
and her guard had come to the castle, and the adventures of
the past four days.  
 "And now you've pointed out the Moon, and I am
afraid...well, I miss my Mother, little one."  She let a
small smile slip through.  "As you must, dear child.  So,
you see, I understand it."
 The child looked at her, and now suddenly he was most
solemn, barely a twinkle staining his eyes.  And he opened
his mouth, and said very clearly, "Yes."
 The world rocked about her again, and before she knew it
she was lying face down in the dirt, balance thrown off,
berry juice and nut meat staining the front of her clothing. 
She let out a small cry, and pressed her hands into the
dirt, trying to rise; at that moment, sharp pains snapped at
her from her hands, and she let out a gasp--the thorn wounds
had reopened.  Still, she pushed herself up, she had to see
the child...
 Yet she could not.
 "No," she whispered.  "No! I will not..."  She looked about
her, and a wave of nausea splashed against her as the world
swirled and fluxed, warping and spinning and weaving in and
out.  She closed her eyes and hunched up, fighting it off
hard; then, with her eyes closed, she began to search for
the boy.  
 "Child! Little one!" she called out, embarrassment rising
that she had not learned his name.  Her hands sifted through
the dust in front of her, but it only overturned crushed
berries and nuts and more dust.  And still, even in the
world behind her eyes, she felt dizzy and unsettled, all of
her senses freaking out and everything was exploding all
about her...
 She tilted back her head to scream, and involuntarily her
eyes came open.  And within their view was the Moon.  
 It almost seemed as if a ray of the silver-white light shot
directly from the orb itself, and enveloped her.  Swiftly,
the world steadied about her, and she swayed to her feet. 
Silver flowed around her in currents of undeniable magic,
and a dim crescent moon appeared upon her forehead.  Her
feet left the ground as the silver cascade grew stronger,
the light about her glistening with rainbow flecks of color. 
Most importantly, strength and serenity flooded through her;
it dried her tears as it gently reassured her mind.  
 The silver flow narrowed to a thin line, and then snapped
off completely, allowing her to float to the ground.  Her
crescent moon flickered away again, and the warm power about
her slowly faded away, leaving her physically and mentally
comforted.
 "Thank you, Mother," she whispered.  Though the woman had
not spoken to her, she had felt her distinctive touch about
her, as if to say that all was all right.
 For a few moments, she stood contentedly there, letting her
mind relax in a warm moment.  However, the thought of the
missing child rose again, and she let her good mood fall
away.  Looking about, she called out once more, "Little
one!"
 "Lady."
 She froze; the voice was not that of a child, but the
mellow tones of a nearly grown male.  Slowly, quietly, she
turned about, and her eyes flew wide as they set upon a
young man sitting cross-legged on the trail.  His body was
lean, elbows upon knees; his clothes were of an twined blue
and brown, each thread glistening with a soft, unknown
light.  His hair was the same neatly trimmed yet spiky
blond; however, his eyes were somehow more fantastic now
than they had been, their jewel-like depths falling even
deeper than before, the hues richer in the starlight that
lay within.  
 Yet it was not the sudden appearance of this strangely
similar creature that shocked her.  It was the delicately
tipped ears that carefully pierced through the blond hair
that caused her to gasp.  
 And all about her, the shadows twitched, and moved, eyes
winking out of the darkness, all of brilliant jewel shades
such as the young man's.  And many more people, male and
female, all dressed in clothing of shining threads, and all
with delicately pointed ears, came out of the wood.

 Q'ar screeched just as Prince felt the change in the air. 
He slowed his horse to a stop, and the raptor stooped down,
easily catching herself before it did damage to anything on
the ground.
 "You feel it?" he asked.
 "There is...the scent of magic is all about us.  There
is...more as well...something indefinite..." She squawked,
frustrated.  "My words do not work! I cannot put magic in
simple phrases!"
 "Calm yourself, Q'ar, or I will," Prince replied darkly.  
 "I don't like your tone."
 "You don't have to," he replied, turning away and checking
the tracks.  He had barely glanced at them when he stood up
and spun about, eyes midnight blue fire.  "Did you know of
this?"
 "What?" 
 "Her horse has gone to a gallop!  The pace is hard for the
beast--that I can tell--but the scent about it is fear."  He
came closer.  "Is there danger, Q'ar?"
 "Potent magics, I could say.  But danger?  I cannot tell,"
replied the raptor carelessly, turning away from him.  She
glided to the ground and hopped over to the tracks, Prince
kneeling to join her.  "Ahh...yes, there is much magic here! 
Yet...well, this is strange!" 
 "What is it, Q'ar?  Tell me!" His voice was rough, more
growl than true speech.  
 "The magic within is different from that which we both feel
now.  Which means..."
 "Malevolent?"
 "Heavens no, Endymion! Now be patient!"
 "I...have...no...patience!" he gritted back.
 "Get some, quickly," she snapped back, "for I have to do
some work over these tracks to know if the magic was within
or without."
 "You cannot tell?"
 "I CAN tell, and will, if you would just shutup."
 He fell silent, nostrils flaring, tail wisking pathetically
about his legs.  He padded back to his horse, and stroked
its neck, soothing the jittery creature.  It wasn't just the
ride, but the forest as well; the deeper one went, the more
potent an effect it had on you.  He knew well; he would
occasionally forage in these forests, and the animal within
him would subside, as if the magics of this place could
subdue that of the witch woman that had put him in this
state.  His fists clenched at the thought of her; he had not
let his mind wander that path for awhile.  She had seemed so
familiar somehow...
 "Ahh!"
 "What?!" he demanded, at her side in a silent flash.  She
gave him what he assumed would be a smirk, and then gestured
with her wing.  
 "The magic is within," she pronounced.  "Very gentle, but
more potent than I've ever felt and...well, it has a certain
foreign quality to it that's very intriguing."
 "It is Serin, then," he muttered to himself, eyes
glittering coldly.  "Come, Q'ar, back on the trail."
 "I cannot."
 "What?" he demanded.
 "I am...an exile," she replied, hesitantly rubbing her head
against her wing.  "And this is too close to the land of..."
 But Endy was mounted and speeding away before she could
finish.
 
 Serin was horrified as the people emerged, and she swayed
slightly, all the warmth of just seconds before vanishing
from her veins.   she thought.  
 "Calm down, Lady Serenity.  You are in no danger here,"
said a smooth voice, which emanated from a brown haired
figure with satin brown eyes that twinkled pleasantly.  
 "You...you know me?"
 "How could our People not know the Princess of the Moon?"
replied the young man, who took the hand of the woman and
stood.  
 "But...but you're of this planet!"
 "We are the Others, Lady Serenity," said another voice now,
and from the crowd detached a dark haired, silver eyed
figure.  "We know."
 So, it had finally been said: these were the famed and
infamous Others of Earth, the peoples of the land, the sea,
the air, the plants...the peoples who would help kind
travelers, and kill those who sought harm for their domain. 
There was no reliable description of them, behind the fact
that all had slightly pointed ears and great, great magic.
 The berry juice that stained her clothing and mouth and
hands now burned like fire, and she could feel her stomach
churn.  Had they come to hurt her...no, they had said no
danger.  And she would believe the words of the Others; they
were always pure, and good, and just...
 The three out of the crowd began to chuckle, and a ripple
of it spread through the peoples about her as well.
 "We are not angels, Serenity," the brown haired woman
laughed.  "Just different."
 "We have our problems, too," the man added.
 "That...I understand," she whispered.   
 "Are you all right, Lady?" the blond asked, moving closer.  
 "Oh yes...I just...well, I was frightened.  And I still
must find the boy," she replied quietly, her body and mind
and soul slowly adjusting to their differentness.   she thought, letting her eyes close.  
 Suddenly she felt her body skew away from her mind, and
heard the cry of "Lady!" as she swayed upon her feet.  Her
eyes flew open as the world swirled; yet, before she could
fall, strong hands caught her, and jewel eyes peered at
hers.  Slowly she was lowered to the ground, both thankful
and terribly embarrassed.
 "Again, Lady, are you all right?" the blond asked once
more, and she felt herself blushing.
 "Yes...oh, I am sorry! I must confess, I am a but
overwhelmed by you all," she replied, sitting up.  The blond
man still held her, close to her, stabilizing her with
gentle hands and lighter, softer eyes.
 "It is not unexpected," said the darker haired lady, voice
soft.  "Especially..." and she trailed off.
 "Oh no! I am not a weakling!" she burst out, and then
covered her mouth, stunned.  "Oh dear."
 The three did not reproach her, but smiled gently.  "We
know, Lady," he said.  "After all, we have never had a woman
of the Moon before."
 "How do you know my heritage?"
 "Aor's presence here was not just to test you, Lady, but
to.."
 "Aor?  Is that the boy?" she asked quickly.  "Where..."
 "I am the boy, Lady.  I masked my form from you," replied
the blond man, now Aor.
 "We had to know if you here fro good, or evil, for although
we can read your minds, it is hard to know your intentions. 
And once we found that you were not of this world..."
 "How could you tell?" Worry filled her eyes and voice.  
 "You need not be concerned that they will figure you out,
Lady," the brown haired lady replied.  "It is an aspect of
our People that we are able to tell what your magic is and
where is originates from."  She leaned back.  "Of course, it
is not fun, as you've see."
 "You mean, when the world went crazy...that was you?" she
asked, looking at Aor.
 He gave her a frank smile.  "Yes, and the others in the
woods assisted and recorded your reactions.  It told of us
the strength and nature of your magic--which is incredible,
I must say--but it was your own reaching out that told us
your location."
 "Oh...you mean my power from the Moon?" she asked, pushing
herself up more.  Aor automatically let her go, falling back
to sitting with his legs crossed as she straightened herself
and her skirts.  "But I didn't reach for it--it just came."
 "Sign of strong magics, Lady," the brown haired woman
replied.  "You should find someone to train you soon."
 "Yes...well, you know my current predicament," she said
softly.
 "That we do," the dark haired woman said, sitting as well. 
"By the way, my name is Iyr, and this is Aor and Res.  We
speak for our sect of the Others, that which looks after
this forest and those it touches."
 "Very, very nice to meet you," she replied.
 "As it is you," Iyr replied.  She settled herself better,
than turned her silvery eyes upon her in a more serious
tone.  "As to your predicament, please, do not feel that you
are trapped within that castle.  You are needed there,
Serenity, in a way that supersedes duty."
 "The Prince, as you call him, is one of our Favored ones,"
Aor broke in.  "Our sect cares about him a lot.  He is the
last of his current line."
 "The last?  But, what line is that?" 
 "You know already, my dear," Res said quietly, smiling at
her with her lips and eyes.  "We cannot tell you what you
know." 
 Serenity looked between the three, then looked down at her
hands.  "What has happened to him?  His form...who could've
done this?" she pleaded, looking up again.
 "It was an unjust charge," Aor said.
 "Yet there was nothing we could do.  It will end up right,"
Iyr said.
 "Perhaps," Res said.  "Remember the cracked glass, Iyr. 
Remember it all rests on her heart."
 Serenity's eyes widened.  "My heart?  But...why on my
heart?"
 "Ask him of his curse, as your Senshi will ask of his
Generals."
 "My Senshi?! Are they all right?!" she burst out.  "I
mean...that's why I came out here, you know."
 "Yes, we know.  And I believe they are all fine, though
they will find their paths as hard as yours."
 "What? Hard?" she gasped out, alarm flashing over her
features.
 "It will be explained to you, Lady.  Calm yourself," Res
said, laying a gentle hand upon her arm.  
 "But..."
 "Lady, we cannot say anymore, because it is quite likely we
don't know anymore," Aor replied.
 "Or, at least, we cannot say anymore, because it would
endanger everything," Res added.
 She nodded, eyes thoughtful.  "You three...you sound a lot
like the Time Guardian.  Pluto," she said quietly.
 Their eyes widened, and they exchanged looks.  A low murmur
ran through the crowd.  "Lady, you are perceptive," Iyn
whispered.  "There is rumored Plutonian blood within...and
we do follow her adherents."
 "It has been a long time since we have seen her, though,"
Res said quietly.  "Perhaps, if you do return, you would
tell her that...we wish an audience?"
 "I will do my best," she replied.
 "There is another thing we must discuss, Lady," Aor began.
 "Is it necessary?" Iyn asked suddenly.  "He could be
displeased."
 "It is the law, oh Compassionate one," Res broke in, a
gentle smile upon her face.  Her glance then fell to Serin,
and she said, "We need your horse."
 "My horse?  But, you don't seem to need to ride upon..."
 Soft chuckles ran through the woods, and all three smiled
quietly.
 "We don't need it to ride, Lady," Iyn began.  "It is the
custom..."
 "We're hungry, actually," Aor burst in, ignoring the looks
from his companions.
 Serin's eyes widened.  "You...you eat horse?"
 "It is a delicacy among our people, and quite rare.  It is
also the Price for allowing you onto our lands," Res
replied, a reassuring smile on her face.
 "Don't worry, Lady, we're quite humane about it.  It's not
a bloody death, just a quite putting to sleep," Iyn added
gently.  When Aor and Res looked at her oddly, she
protested, "Hey, what else can I say?"
 "It is all right," Serin whispered.  "I just find it hard
to think that you would eat horse."
 "Actually, the horse is very good for you," Iyn began, but
the others gave her a dark look, and she quieted.
 "I believe you," Serin replied.  "Take it...I will deal
with the Prince."
 Suddenly, a loud clatter fell over the ears of the group,
Serin wincing away from the sound.  Rustlings and less eyes
in her vision told her the others were moving away; the
three exchanged glances, and then stood.
 "We must go, Lady," Aor said.
 "Favored or no, it would not behoove the Prince to see us,"
Iyn added.
 "Nor, perhaps, for us to see him," Res added.  She paused
for a moment, and raised her nose as if to sniff the air. 
"Besides, he has the scent of that traitor about him."
 "Traitor?" she asked as they began to move away.
 "We have our problems too, Lady Serenity," said Res in a
whispery voice.  "Good-bye." The note of her voice was held,
and the two others blended in with it, creating a gorgeous
chord on the breeze.
 "I hope to see you again."
 "You may," Iyn said.  "Speak to the wood, if you need..."
but her words were lost to the forested shadows.  As they
vanished, the soft fog that had come with them began to
dissipate, and it was lit by a sudden burst of argent
moonlight.
 And this was how the Prince saw Serin as he rode up: a
figure sitting upon the ground, swathed in shimmering silver
mist.  He slowed his horse to a walk as her approached, his
eyes wide as he gazed upon her beauty, so magnified by
nature.  
 It was at this time that, for one instant, the Prince's
heart stopped, the magic about him wavering a bit.  It was
also at this instant that the Sorceress looked up from her
spells and wards, scowling, as she realized something had
happened.  Upon the Moon, Queen Selenity sat up a little
straighter her, a strange feeling tickling the back of her
mind.
 He walked his animal forward, looking down upon her.  The
animal's hoof was barely inches from her when he stopped and
dismounted, walking into the soft light to stand over her
frame.  Now he could see the dust caked upon her hair, and
front of her clothing mottled with fresh stains of berries--
the scent of it was strong upon her, along with nuts--and
the travel weariness on her features.  Still, when she
tilted back her head to look up at him, light blue eyes
melding with the silver power he felt, he found that time
suddenly seemed to stop, and was concentrated completely in
those soothing yet empowered eyes.
 The softness that now bit at him irked him, for what this
woman had down was inexcusable.  Truly so.  And so he
ordered in a rough tone, "Get up."
 "My Lord Prince..." 
 "Get up, Lady Serin, before I drag you up," he said, teeth
gritted.  
 "Yes, m'lord," she replied quickly, turning her down from
his and slowly pulling herself to a regal stand, though her
body was a little more slumped than a royal posture would
allow.  Softness once again welled inside him, and he
snarled softly as he pushed it down.
 "Are you troubled, m'lord?" she asked, voice very soft.
 "Troubled?  Oh, no, no, no Lady, not troubled at all!  Why
should I be troubled when in one day, two women are injured
and one runs away?  No, I am not troubled by that in the
least," he replied, voice low and seething with conjured
anger.  
 "Two ladies?  Oh my Lord, how...?"
 "Had you stayed, you would've known, perhaps been able to
help them all the more.  Instead, you were out here, causing
trouble instead of fixing it," he slashed back in reply.  
 Serin flinched visibly, and her posture slumped all the
more, eyes beginning to water.   she
thought helplessly.  
 The Prince looked upon her form now, and softness came into
his eyes.  He realized he had pushed it for her--her who'd
been out riding most of the day, and had been stranded in
this far section of forest, a place most people wouldn't
have attempted in daylight, much less at night.  He
struggled over his actions for a moment, then took a small breath, and
reached up with one finger.  "Are you...all right?" he
asked, lifting her chin softly, dismayed to see the tracks
of bright tears upon her face.  
 "Yes," she replied with a sniff, wiping the water away with
the heel of her hand and taking a small breath.  "I mean...I
am not injured at all..."
 He suddenly caught her hand, and extended her arm, his
touch so soft upon it.  The moonlight laid bare the small
cuts and scratches she had received that evening, and she
gasped at how red some of them were.
 "No injuries, m'lady?" he asked, voice soft and very, very
low.
 "I am sorry...please forgive me, m'lord, but...I forgot
about this," she replied, voice wavering as she honestly
tried to convince him that she had.  Truth be told, they
still itched a little, but..."I had to pick my dinner, and
in some cases, it was well guarded," she added.
 "These do not look like the scrapes of any thorned berry
bushes I know, nor any of the nuts I smell upon you," he
replied, voice even.
 "Please, m'lord, I am tired.  I shall..." she looked down,
feeling a sense of loss, and suddenly longing for her home
very much.  "I mean, I..."
 It suddenly struck him the immensity of this woman, of what
she had gone through, and now he was interrogating her on
the spot when all she wanted was some food and warm drink,
or perhaps just a warm bed.  Shame flooded his veins, and he
dropped her hand as if he had been burned.  "I am sorry,
Lady.  I forget the late hour," he said stiffly.  "Now, get
your horse and things, and we shall ride back together." 
 She turned away for a moment, then stiffened.  He noticed,
and asked, "Lady?"
 "Um...m'lord, I believe the horse is gone."
 "Gone?" he asked, voice rising to an angrier register.
 She turned back, face resigned.  "Yes, m'lord.  You see,
I..."
 He waved an impatient hand.  "Never mind!  Just see if
there's any tack left, and we'll ride double home.  I hope
you don't mind killing the horse, though."
 Peculiarly, he didn't pick up her sudden wince.
 She return with only the halter and bridle, for the saddle
had disappeared along with the animal.  The Prince grumbled
at her for it, and she took it carefully, inside wishing she
could've disappeared with the Others.  However, as she
handed the tack to him, their hands meet a few times, and it
seemed to both that the tension lowered with every contact. 
Finally, she mounted up behind him, unsteady in the back of
the saddle as she adjusted her skirts.
 "You'd better hold on tight," he rumbled.
 "Ahh...yes," she whispered, and swiftly he thin arms
encircled his waist, her grip tight upon him.   
  he thought as he clicked gently to the
horse, 
 And neither had she.

    Source: geocities.com/soho/gallery/8281/anime