Mistic Circle ~ Story

From: Katie <kay_silversong@yahoo.com>

Kay stood off to one side, one hand in her bondmate's neck fur.
She looked around camp, saw that many of the others were starting to
make ready to leave when they needed to, and glanced down at her
companion. :Winddancer. Now is the time to Call. Please bring our
friend. We must hurry.: Her worry was noticed by Dancer.

:We have enough time for him to get here before we need him. I
shall go and call. He will be here within the hour.: Winddancer gave
a last wolfish grin to his partner and loped off into the woods. As
Kay waited for him to return with good news, she heard someone call out.

<snip> "All right, everyone with fighting skills, please come to me
so that we can formulate a some sort of defense plan." As she
> waited for volunteers, Fallenangel spent a brief moment wondering
just __where_ that thrice-damned Divine Knight had gotten to....
</snip>

Kay craned her neck and saw who was speaking. It was the
young woman who had an aura that looked suspiciously like that of one
of Laoghaire's Angels. (I haven't seen one of Laoghaire's Angels in a
very long time, and even that was from a distance. Does everyone here
know what she is, or is she hiding her status? What is her status? I
thought that the Angels served Laoghaire? My Goddess, guide my hand in
this group. I think I will need all the help I can get...)

Kay left her spot and headed over to the woman. She stopped a
few feet away from the woman and spoke to her softly. "I have some
skill with blades. I prefer daggers, but I can use my sword with
enough skill to keep myself alive, and I am somewhat proficient with a
bow and arrows. What can I do to help?" Kay waited, both for the
woman's answer and for her bondmate to arrive with news of her friend.

From: Adrienne <ametz@u.arizona.edu>

Relief flooded through Aya as Xenon promised secrecy to her own and Ruvan's
rank. She was not sure what to think of his warning of not following to
the lair of Savar. She had no knowledge of the quest he spoke, and did not
intend to walk into danger. Although, intentions do not always work out
for the best. Then, with emotion streaming across his face, Xenon
described his influence in the mind of the young man Darro. She was
horrified that one could pass and execute a judgement so severe on another
soul. Yet, it was not her place to judge that act. Concerned about this
man's emotional stability, she listened, knowing that was the most she
could do for him. After a barely controlled, impassioned speech, the man
who could not decide to be evil or good advised her to rest and take care
of her son. He promised to send Dak to her and also to undo his doing in
Darro. That was all she could ask. And as he leaned forward to kiss
Ruvan, she placed her hand briefly against his cheek, a maternal gesture.
He seemed not to notice as he bowed then strode off.

She turned to watch him. He quickly found Dak, but she could not watch
their exchange as the Animiian girl approached her.

>Walking up to the richly dressed lady she smiled equal to equal. "Lady
>Aya?" she asked formally, cursing that she didn't know her true title.
>"May I ask you which ruling family you are from? And may I assume your
>son is the heir?"

Aya was a bit perplexed at having been recognized. A closer look at the
girl revealed her to be Princess Rainbow, the Animiian Heir. All royalty
was trained in recognizing the royalty of other Houses, be it by face or
other distinguishing factors, for the very reason that they, however
unlikely it may be, could come across each other on a roadway and should
give the deserved respect required. This was not particularly helpful in
this situation. Aliaya had been keeping to herself the past year. She was
sure that if the Tyrant who now ruled her country learned of her existence
and whereabouts, he would track her down and kill her and her son. She
decided to give the truth, but not all of it.

"Princess Rainbow," Aya executed perfectly the curtsy a peasant gives a
princess, even with Ruvan in her arms. "My family is no longer in rule.
There are several countries far to the south and west whose ruling families
have been executed or exiled. My son and I are from one of those
countries. There are few who know exactly who Ruvan and I are. My
preference at this time is to keep it that way. I trust you will not share
your knowledge. Now, if you will excuse me, my son needs feeding, and
children do not wait for polite conversation." Aliaya smiled politely at
the girl. Then turned to find Dak.

She saw him, not far away, holding new blades, looking whimsical. Her
heart fluttered for he was so beautiful. She walked to him. As she
neared, she spoke, "Dak, would you mind showing me a place where I can feed
my son with modesty and rest myself?" She shifted Ruvan into a more
comfortable position and smiled at her new caretaker.

From: KSD <fallenangel_ksd@usa.net>

Fallenangel turned as a graceful young woman walked up to her.

"I have some skill with blades. I prefer daggers, but I can use my sword with
enough skill to keep myself alive, and I am somewhat proficient with a bow and
arrows. What can I do to help?" she asked.

"Hello, I don't believe that we've met." 'Angel smiled, hoping that this tall
newcomer wouldn't take offense. "My name's Fallenangel, and this is my
bond-mate Isis," she gestured to the winged black panther, who bowed her head
to the woman. "She is intelligent as any human, so please treat her as such.
Now, do you perchance have any experience with battle-plans? I'm not a
warrior, beyond some simple self-defense. And I, personally, am a bit
uncomfortable that most of our warriors have left the group, and I'd like to
formulate some sort of defense plan. Hopefully, one that would make us look
less like a easy target, since I am not from around here and do not know just
_what_ kind of creatures are still lurking in these woods." Fallenangel ended,
waiting for her to introduce herself and perhaps offer some options.

:'Angel, she looked as if she recognized you. I think that she knows what you
are.:

:Isis, dearheart, after the fiasco when Jonas showed up, I doubt that there
are many in this group who _don't_ know who & what I am. I'm hoping that my
shields hold up under all this stress - I can almost feel them weakening as I
speak. Let's just hope that they hold up under scrutiny - I don't want to have
to change to defend myself against some sort of Savar-sent creature. I don't
think I have the power left.:

The panther gazed at her bond-mate, a bit worried. ('Angel's shields have
never been completely as strong as Laoghaire's other Chosen... because she has
no mage-powers, and even a God cannot _completely_ change one's nature.) She
turned her eyes back to the newcomer who smelled of her wolf bond-mate, and
hoped that she wouldn't have to deal with the women and wolf on a hostile
basis. (It wouldn't be a good idea to ask 'Angel to scan her emotionally
either. That would just offend 'Angel, and the other woman if she detected it.
I don't _think_ she's an Empath, but still....) After all, it wasn't unknown
for rival Gods to sent their followers after Laoghaire's Angels, and Isis was
always careful.

From: Katie <kay_silversong@yahoo.com>

<snip> "Hello, I don't believe that we've met." 'Angel smiled, hoping that this tall
> newcomer wouldn't take offense. "My name's Fallenangel, and this is my
> bond-mate Isis," she gestured to the winged black panther, who bowed her head
> to the woman. "She is intelligent as any human, so please treat her as such.
> Now, do you perchance have any experience with battle-plans? I'm not a
> warrior, beyond some simple self-defense. And I, personally, am a bit
> uncomfortable that most of our warriors have left the group, and I'd like to
> formulate some sort of defense plan. Hopefully, one that would make us look
> less like a easy target, since I am not from around here and do not know just
> _what_ kind of creatures are still lurking in these woods." Fallenangel ended,
> waiting for her to introduce herself and perhaps offer some options.
</snip>

Kay stood and listened as the woman put forth good reasons for
asking for help. Kay smiled sadly.

"My name is Kay Silversong. I would introduce my bondmate, but
Winddancer is off in the woods retrieving a friend of ours. I am
afraid that I cannot help you with what is dangerous around here. I
have not visited these lands before. I have little experience with
battle plans, but have been instructed in strategy by a few teachers.
I have not had great success lately with my plans." Kay sighed,
thinking of the warm land that she had hoped to find. (One with
beaches, and water that is a clear blue. Not like winter. I hate
winter. It's so cold!) Kay shivered, and returned her attention to the woman. The
panther, Isis, had gifted her with a strange look. Kay decided to
explain what she knew.

"Fallenangel, I have a question. If you
choose not to answer it, I shall respect your wishes. But first let me
tell you something. I have traveled far over past years, and I once
came across one that was touched by the Gods. A certain God, to be
precise. One named Laoghaire. This God appears to appoint Angels. I
was wondering if you were one such named. I am no threat to you or
the others in this group, unless my magic goes wild again. But that
only happens occasionally..."

Kay was interupted from her explanation by the sound of hooves
in the woods. She whirled to look and saw Winddancer come running out
of the forest followed by a horse. The horse was tall, pure black,
with only a single streak of silver between his eyes. Kay grinned.
"That would be my other companion on the trail. His name is
Lightning. He was a gift from one of my teachers. He is a normal
horse that was trained not to be afraid of my bondmate. Anyway, if I
can be of any service, please let me know. I have no idea what a
battle plan might be like, but I do know how to look less vulnerable
than I really am. And I apologize for babbling, I tend to do that
when I'm nervous, and you lot are enough to make one sainted nervous."
Kay stood, one hand on her horse's reins, and the other twined in her
bondmate's fur.

:Kay, the panther is staring at us. Did you ask the woman yet?:
Winddancer was curious as a cat, and refused to be put off when Kay
made a shushing motion with her hand on his neck. He persisted until
she gave him a quick rundown on what had happened in the few minutes
he had been gone. He sighed into her mind, then made his decision.

:Mistress Fallenangel, could you be so kind as to relieve my mind that
you are, in fact, one of Laoghaire's Angels. I know that all those
who are touched by a god must worry that other gods or villains will
send agents against them, but you need have no fear on that account.
My bondmate and I are late arrivals to the group, as we came stumbling
across you after traveling a long way from our own land, and wish to
cause no problems. But we need information to do that. Can you put
my mind to rest on this one fact?: Winddancer waited with the
patience of a predator, and Kay prayed to her Goddess that Fallenangel
and Isis would not take offense at Dancer's bluntness and demanding
nature.

Typo: typodrgn@ARCHES.UGA.EDU

<Snip> :Dragon. I Run to camp, follow my trail!: Taking a deep breath,
he let himself go. <Snip>

Erelan blinked after her fellow traveler - she had forgotten he was
there. He seemed a harmless enough creature, she thought as she watched
first his form, then his life-heat image fade into the black forest.
Quiet, and wholly harmless - _prey-species_ a detatched, summarily
helpful part of her mind supplied.

Several moments later, the boy's statement connected with one of the
thin threads of understanding swirling through her drug-addled brain.
He was not a prey-species, he was a companion, and she was to follow
him. It was enough to obey orders. She shuffled off into the the patch
of shadow where the boy disappeared, all of her functioning mind focused
on the faint scent of elf/human and the few disturbed branches and
leaves he had left to mark his trail.

It was strange, that she could forget from one moment to the next her
purpose in being here. Faces without names, names without faces, voices
without words and emotions without context moved in shifting patterns
before her mind's eye. A moment before, she would have sworn the trees
were afire. A moment before that, she was certain that she could see
the light scintillating off the tiny waves of a night ocean, but now she
saw it was only the faint motion of wind-ruffled leaves that caught her
eye. Only the faint scent drew her on - she did not pause to wonder
whether she hunted to kill or befriend the one she followed.

Erelan could feel her chest burning with the aftereffects of the
mage-blast, but could not remember the blast itself. The fire did not
hurt, exactly, but she could feel it eating into her breast like a
living thing, as if it meant to devour her heart and leave the rest of
her body light and dry as ash. There was a horrible pressure against
her lungs - no pain warned her to breathe shallowly, and now her breath
rattled thickly through the blood.

(Have I killed again?) She thought wearily, a moment of sad clarity
punctuating the dimness around her. There was blood on her talons - it
was not the first time she had woken from a daze to find unclaimed blood
on her person. (Have I run mad again?)

_It is the madness of a rat that would devour her young to protect them_

The disembodied voice made her start. She had heard it as clearly as if
the words were spoken beside her, but her senses told her that there was
nothing there.

_It is the madness of one who would slaughter you in the name of mercy_

"Who goes?" Erelan croaked, her draconic words scarcely above a whisper.

_It is the madness of a dear friend that would betray and never regret
enough to undo the wrongs_

_It is the madness of a greater fear, Erelan_

The dazed dragon shook her head, sitting back on her haunches. There
was no one there - no one at all. The voice whispered through her mind,
bitter as tannin and dry as dust amongst dark half-memories. She first
saw the form, insubstantial and dreamlike, against the black trunk of an
ancient tree. Arms grey and transparent as mist reached out to her,
disturbing half-real drapes of ashen fabric. The face of the apparition
drew her eyes most strongly, for it was pale, and drawn, and sad, dark
hair shot with strands of white tumbling back in a torrent of darkness
and rain-grey eyes communicating an all-too-human regret. "Who are
you?" Erelan whispered to the empty darkness.

The form - ghost or fever-dream - smiled a sad smile and shook its head,
long hair rippling as if caught in a current of water. _A soul who
loved you, once_.

Coughing, choking on her own blood, Erelan took a step toward the
shifting figure, then fell to her knees as sudden faintness overtook her
senses. "Muri...?"

The ghostly woman laid a hand against the dying dragon's cheek, the
touch like a thin tongue of mist. She looked into Erelan's eyes,
drawing the dragon's fevered, fading senses into close rapport. All the
world faded away but for that strange communion, and Erelan found
herself sinking into a trancelike state in which her heart scarcely beat
and hardly a breath stirred her breast.

_And so, endure_ the ghostly voice whispered at last into the calmness
of Erelan's mind. _You always did, in spite of all the wrongs I did
you_

Focused on the task of remaining alive, Erelan knew nothing, saw
nothing, moving so slowly she seemed scarcely alive. No sound disturbed
the silence. No ghostly form haunted the night.

Alone in the forest, Erelan waited for help to come.

-.__.-*-.____.-+*.__.--._.-+-.__.-*-.____.-+*.__.--._.-+-.__.-*-.____.-+

Dry-eyed and soundless, Erelan cried out her sorrow once again for a
companion long dead, but the grief was within, and even as it consumed
her, it sustained her and kept her from preparing to die. She did not
recognize or resist the threads of comfort Xenon sent to twine her
thoughts and urge peace and sleep.

It could have been the Singing.

She dropped over like a felled tree and slipped into darkness.

Eons later, she almost-woke to a sense of mental touch so subtle she did
not lash out in defense. The presence moved quietly from raw place to
raw place, tidying the wreck Tor had left of her spirit. This odd
double-creature she sensed without recognizing ordered the chaos with a
deftness that would have humbled many dragons. It was amber-colored to
her mind's eye, and about it seemed to linger the faint traces of
apple-spice and a wholesome quiet that wrapped her soul like a blanket.
Curious, she continued to watch - wondering, as it repaired strained and
broken parts of her will, and erased many scars of demon-influence and
torture. The resulting webwork reinforced the supports of sanity she
had struggled to maintain for almost thirty years. Only when the
presence drifted too near the walled-off memories of her imprisonment
did she shy away and gently direct the creature off into another
direction. Behind those barriers were things that would devour them
both, and even the mostly-unaware watcher of the dragon's sub-conscious
would not allow such a thing to happen.

Apparently satisfied with its work, the bright-thing retreated, covering
its trail with incredible skill. She followed it upward until
consciousness became too bright a light for her to endure, and she could
only whisper out into the whiteness :Who are you? Are you Muriel? Am I
going to Sola's Nest, now?:

And then the sleeping dragon woke.

She woke with a start, to a face she had not expected or even feared
to see. Caught in the horror of a moment helpless before one she
recognized as a mage equal to or greater than Tor in power, she
instinctively boiled into the defensive posture of a hatchling. In the
blink of an eye, every fang, claw, and spine in her considerable armory
was presented forward in a wicked display, and she swung the spiked tip
of her long, mobile tail down to crush the perceived danger before her.

The fact that she could ready a defense at all was the only thing that
stopped her from attacking Xenon. The feeling of wholeness about a body
she last saw on the verge of death brought her up short, and she backed
up one step, and another, shivering like a terrified horse.

:What have you done?: she mentally whispered, elation at the feeling of
blood coursing strong through perfect wings and each breath painlessly
drawn warring with the creeping horror that it had been done by this
one, this blood-mage and demoner. :What have you done to me?: she
whispered, and even more faintly and panicked, :What will you demand for
this? Better you had let me die....:

She had continued to back up as she spoke, and now pressed against the
trees as far from the mage as she could retreat without turning tail and
running. It was not her way to run. Searching for answers, she began
to realize that there were no bindings - none that she recognized, in
any case. There was no faint stench of an alien command lingering in
her mind, no new stripes of pain- or guilt-driven coercion laid across
her psyche. She was at a loss, and she shook her head, trying to
disperse the strange, sinking panic born of a world where the rules had
once again changed.

Summoning all her courage - more courage than it took to challenge
Nirathei, she bowed her head low in a formal thanks, dropping her
wing-talons nearly to the ground in apology for her near-attack. Erelan
found some comfort in the return to safely ingrained Ritual. She hoped
he would not notice how her newly-healed sails rustled with nervousness.

She suspected he would.

:Your pardon, mage: she murmured, mental voice colored the soft
blue-grey of a sea calming after a tempest. :Your pardon, I ask most
humbly. My thanks, I give... wholeheartedly.: She cast her eyes
downward and advanced a step or two forward, until she could crouch down
at eye-level with the mage. :I... forgot about Nirathei,: she
admitted. :Damned moth-eaten memory. I knew him once, sometime long
ago. Sometimes, it is not a blessing to forget.: Ruefulness brought
out the green in great hazel eyes. :I do not dare believe he is dead -
though by rights we should both have fled this world. I am a fool, that
I expected the Honor of fair battle from a creature like him. You
have... rescued me from my folly, and I fear I am indebted to you for
that.: For some reason, the stiff formality did not go far to disguise
a sense that she would rather have taken on Nirathei again than admit to
her debt.

She could detect the vestiges of healing energy like half-torn
spiderwebs about her mind, but they did not seem intrusive. Having
experienced the sensation of an unwelcome mind, she was fairly confident
that the mage had not dared to enter her thoughts or alter her mind in
any way.

If not for the odd calmness, the sense of order, and the faintest tinge
of apple-spice twining her thoughts, she would have been completely
sure.

She sighed and dropped a bit of the ritualistic presence. :I would have
warned you away if I could have, Mage Xenon, and for more reason than my
own pride. A dragon's mind is often a gate to madness and death for
humans. This I know, and know well. I would not wish that fate upon
you, Mage. It is... a horrible way to die.:

The sinking in the pit of her stomach almost made her glad that she had
no recollection of the last few moments before Tor's death. Her last
memory of that particular mage was standing over his mangled body, her
mind in such a maelstrom it seemed alien even to her own senses. The
look on the mage's face had not been the look one might turn on an
attacking animal one moment before death - it had been the withered,
chilling expression of a man viewing an eternity in every Hell
imaginable.

:You were fortunate you did not venture there, Mage,: she spoke quietly,
almost to herself. :I would not wish such a thing on anyone... else.:
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. :I do not know how you have
done what you have done, and I greatly fear that it was no trifling
thing. Then I suppose i'faith, we must settle our business, Mage of the
Old Ways:

From: "KSD" <fallenangel_ksd@usa.net>

>"My name is Kay Silversong. I would introduce my bondmate, but
>Winddancer is off in the woods retrieving a friend of ours. I am
>afraid that I cannot help you with what is dangerous around here. I
>have not visited these lands before. I have little experiance with
>battle plans, but have been instructed in strategy by a few teachers.
>I have not had great success lately with my plans."

Fallenangel listened as Kay explained, feeling a bit more hopeful as the
young woman said that she did have some exprience with battle strategy.
Before she could speak again, however, Kay asked the question that both
Fallenangel and Isis had been half-expecting.

>"Fallenangel, I have a question. If you choose not to answer it,
>I shall respect your wishes. But first let me
>tell you something. I have traveled far over past years, and I once
>came across one that was touched by the Gods. A certain God, to be
>precise. One named Laoghaire. This God appears to appoint Angels. I
>was wondering if you were one such named. I am no threat to you or
>the others in this group, unless my magic goes wild again. But that
>only happens occasionally..."

:I told you,: Isis sent. :She knows. We might as well tell her.:

'Angel sighed. :What did you think she meant by her magic going wild? That
doesn't sound good....:

Before Fallenangel could answer Kay's question or ask one of her own,
there came a pounding of hooves from the direction of the forest. Isis
dropped into a crouched position, teeth bared and ready to spring into an
attack, as Kay whirled as if expecting an enemy. Fallenangel had her wings
half spread and dagger drawn as a huge wolf and beautiful black horse
thundered out of the trees. They both relaxed as Kay grinned, seeming to
recognize the two, and explained.

>"That would be my other companion on the trail. His name is
>Lightning. He was a gift from one of my teachers. He is a normal
>horse that was trained not to be afraid of my bondmate. Anyway, if I
>can be of any service, please let me know. I have no idea what a
>battle plan might be like, but I do know how to look less vulnerable
>than I really am. And I apologize for babbling, I tend to do that
>when I'm nervous, and you lot are enough to make one sainted nervous."
> Kay stood, one hand on her horse's reins, and the other twined in her
>bondmate's fur.

Fallenangel straightened and slid her dagger unobtrusively back into its
sheath, pondering what to say as Isis forwarded Winddancer's mind-sent
message.

>:Mistress Fallenangel, could you be so kind as to relieve my mind that
>you are, in fact, one of Laoghaire's Angels. I know that all those
>who are touched by a god must worry that other gods or villains will
>send agents against them, but you need have no fear on that account.
>My bondmate and I are late arrivals to the group, as we came stumbling
>across you after traveling a long way from our own land, and wish to
>cause no problems. But we need information to do that. Can you put
>my mind to rest on this one fact?:

"Noble wolf, I am one of Laoghaire's angels. I would be glad to prove it
to you - but I would prefer not to unshield if I do not absolutely have to.
This seems to be very dangerous territory, and my aura would certainly be a
beacon for Savar's troops, even as our assorted mages' auras are. If either
you or your bond-mate have mind-gifts, I would not take it amiss if you
wished to scan me to ascertain that I am telling the truth." Angel smiled,
dropping the formal speech. "I should probably tell you that I am not a mage
or a fighter as most of my God's chosen are - I am an Empath, and have only
a few basic skills as far as battle and magic go. I am not a mind-speaker,
but Isis has both the gifts of Sending and Receiving. She relays any
messages sent to me, even those sent to me alone, and not broad-sent."

She turned to Kay. "I believe that you said that this group makes you
nervous? I can sympathize with that. There _is_ enough power concentrated in
this one area to make even the God-touched nervous - and I am not the only
one in this group, although there is only one other here who is affiliated
with Laoghaire." Fallenangel sighed, knowing that she had to talk to that
Jonas Avare soon. Shaking her head to dismiss the thought, she continued. "I
trust that answers all your questions about me? Feel free to ask me anything
that I have missed; I am not easily offended, so you don't have to worry on
that score. Now, you said that occasionally your magic ran wild? If you'll
forgive me for asking, could you explain? It sounds as if that may be a
potential danger to the group...."

While waiting for the young woman to explain or not, Isis stood and
loped off in the direction of Fallenangel's horse, intending to untie him
and send him to her bond-mate before she left on a brief prowl of the area,
hopefully so that no other creatures could sneak up on the campsite....

From: Katie <kay_silversong@yahoo.com>

<snip> "Noble wolf, I am one of Laoghaire's angels. I would be glad to prove it
> to you - but I would prefer not to unshield if I do not absolutely have to.
> This seems to be very dangerous territory, and my aura would certainly be a
> beacon for Savar's troops, even as our assorted mages' auras are. If either
> you or your bond-mate have mind-gifts, I would not take it amiss if you
> wished to scan me to ascertain that I am telling the truth." Angel smiled,
> dropping the formal speech. "I should probably tell you that I am not a mage
> or a fighter as most of my God's chosen are - I am an Empath, and have only
> a few basic skills as far as battle and magic go. I am not a mind-speaker,
> but Isis has both the gifts of Sending and Receiving. She relays any

> messages sent to me, even those sent to me alone, and not
broad-sent." </snip>

Kay noticed that Fallenangel had put away the weapon that she
had drawn when Lightning and Winddancer had made their entrance. Kay
nodded at the other woman gratefully. "I appreciate your honesty
about your status as an Angel. And being an Empath is not better or
worse than being a mage or fighter. It takes all kinds to build a
society." Kay paused, then went on. "The Angel that I previously
encountered I only saw from a bit of a disadvantage, and that made the
impression one that was rather distinct, and the feel of you in my
head seems an awful lot like his... But, anyway, you need not
unshield. I shall take your word for it. And I don't think that I'll
risk scanning you myself right now... Winddancer doesn't have that
ability. He's really rather limited, aren't you, dear?" Kay grinned
down at him. The wolf snorted and looked away, embarrassed.

<snip> She turned to Kay. "I believe that you said that this group makes you
> nervous? I can sympathize with that. There _is_ enough power concentrated in
> this one area to make even the God-touched nervous - and I am not the only
> one in this group, although there is only one other here who is affiliated
> with Laoghaire." Fallenangel sighed, knowing that she had to talk to that
> Jonas Avare soon. Shaking her head to dismiss the thought, she continued. "I
> trust that answers all your questions about me? Feel free to ask me anything
> that I have missed; I am not easily offended, so you don't have to worry on
> that score. Now, you said that occasionally your magic ran wild? If you'll
> forgive me for asking, could you explain? It sounds as if that may be a
> potential danger to the group...."
>
> While waiting for the young woman to explain or not, Isis stood and
> loped off in the direction of Fallenangel's horse, intending to untie him
> and send him to her bond-mate before she left on a brief prowl of the area,
> hopefully so that no other creatures could sneak up on the campsite.... </snip>

"There are more than one of you Angels here? But why didn't I
sense that?" Kay was surprised, and a bit nervous. (I hope that
doesn't mean that my magic is going wild again... This is how it
usually begins. One small mistake, leading to another, and then
another, and then an explosion...) Kay shook her mind back to
business. There were other things to think about, and she needed to
concentrate. "No, don't answer that. Oh, my magic. Well, that's a
bit tricky. You see, I was born with the Gift, but I was never
trained properly as a child, because our village Wise Woman died
during the winter that I turned nine. I learned enough from my
parents so that I never had serious problems, and since then I have
been trained, but my gift is unpredictable. It has a tendency to
malfunction..." Kay trailed off, trying to think of the right way to
put things, so that no one became seriously alarmed. Winddancer cut in.

:If I may be so rude to interrupt? Kay is trying to tell you
that she has limited control over her gift, but that her amulet keeps
a bit of control all the time. As long as the amulet is safe, Kay
won't have problems. But if the amulet needs to be recharged from her
mage-power, or if she uses it too often, it goes haywire, and begins
to send her the wrong information, leading up to a minor explosion of
bael-fire that has the ability to set things alight.: Winddancer gave
a lupine grin and snorted at his annoyed bondmate in amusement. Kay
gave up glaring at him and agreed. "Yeah, that's about it. Now, what
did you want to do about the camp, and are we going to be here long
enough to make the changes necessary? If we're leaving soon, I would
suggest just making the changes at the next camp, seeing as how there
are so many here that it would be difficult to be organized in time to
do any good if we're leaving within the next two days."

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