Sandry ran into the field of wildflowers. The stalks reached almost up to her chest, they had overgrown so much. "Briar, look! Lilies!" Grabbing his hand, she dragged him over to the cluster, far to the left of the dirt road.

Groaning, he followed her as he was pulled along at high velocity.

Daja had settled herself by some orange flowers, with long petals and freckles. Kethan sat next to her, placing his staff next to hers on the soft grass. "Tiger lilies!" He fingered one of the silky petals with his long fingers.

Playing with her thick braid, Daja just watched as a small sparrow with a speckled breast chirped at her friend. Giggling, she saw the small creature nuzzle against his skin before flying away.

Turning back to her, he grinned. "I used to run away from staff practices to talk to animals."

She smiled back. "But you learned it anyway right?"

"Staff? Yes, unfortunately." His eyes twinkled. "Do i hear a challenge?" In that instant, they both swept up their trader instruments and squared off.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sandry knelt in the patch of white and lavender lilies. "They're so pretty, i just want to hug them!"

Briar grinned. "I dont think they would like that too well, you think?"

Sighing, Sandry sat on the grass. Staring up at her surroundings, she mused, "I know now why they don't let small children into this meadow. They'd be lost, because even sitting my head doesnt even show over the top of the flowers!"

Curious, Briar sat next to her. Even with his taller height, he was invisible to anyone on the road. Taking advantage of this privacy, he suddenly kissed Sandry, leaning her backwards from her sitting position until her hair almost touched the grass.

Blushing, the girl exclaimed, "Briar!" Then she paused. Why was she being shy? Didn't she want to kiss him?

Rolling over, she collided with him. They rolled over a few times before finally "stopping" against a tree. "Ow," Briar joked, before he was completely overwhelmed by Sandry, who was intent on only him.

Pressing her deeper into the soft grass, he was also entirely occupied. He stroked the straying tendrils of hair away from her face, slightly unnerved by their supine position.

The sweet scent of her hair blended enticingly with the perfume of the lilies, and he kissed her repeatedly, starting with her forehead and slowly down to her mouth. Sandry buried her hands into his grass-entangled hair, breathing in his kisses as if she were drowning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tris was wandering in the field when she heard a thwack right next to her. "Watch out, Tris!" Kethan yelled as he dodged a staff blow from Daja. Watching in curiousity, Tris saw the ebony of their weapons meet, bend slightly, and hold as their full weights collided.

Feeling way more respect for Trader weapons, Tris walked up the dirt road. Feeling the wind whip through her curls, she paused. It felt...different.

Ignoring it, she continued her walk. Where were Sandry and Briar? Her heart pricked her a bit before she shook it off. He loves her, and she loves him. It didn't matter anymore what she thought. It saddened her for a second, but she recovered quickly. Which proves, she said to herself, her love wasn't very deep.

She looked around her. She had walked slowly away from the gate, which was now a small dot in the distance. The moist winds returned, picking at her arm. What was wrong with it?

Reaching with her magic, she felt rather than saw the huge mass moving quickly towards them....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daja greatly respected Kethan's skills. Why, she could barely defend herself, let alone attack. "Trader, you're good."

Gasping, the boy shook sweat out of his eyes. Laughing silently to herself, Daja thanked her parents for sailing in hot areas: she didnt sweat even through the most difficult exercises. "Gods, Daja, when was your last lesson?" Struggling to return her par, he jumped out of the way just in time.

"When I was nine."

His mouth dropping open, Kethan stared. "What? NINE? And you're still this honed..." His guard dropped for a second, and Daja immediately took the advantage to attack.

But then their staffs met, and it quickly turned into a press-as-hard-as-you-can situation. The dark girl groaned. She hated this part, where the two staffs locked and the only way out was through brute strength. Her smithing arms could hold out for a while...yet...

Their close proximity suddenly closed in on them, and surprise clouded both their eyes. Faces only inches apart, they froze.

Kethan blinked, then ever so slowly kissed Daja. Pulling back, they stared at each other for a few more seconds before Daja broke the stillness by tripping him with her staff.

Laughing, Kethan got up. "Hey, Daja!" He wondered if her action was in anger for his intrusion, or because she just felt like it. The Trader boy just stood there, unsure what to do next.

Abandoning her staff, Daja only threw her arms around his neck, continuing their new game. His staff soon followed suit, rolling down to the ground to join hers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Briar! We need your help now! Rosethorn screamed through the lilies minds.

What? Briar looked up from his embrace, confused. Rosethorn? Sandry, in contact with him, could also hear her frightened plea. She tried to sit up, but was sandwiched tightly between Briar and the ground.

Boy, there's a storm coming, full of magic. We need you all to urgently- she paused- Boy, what are you doing?! she shrieked, angry.

Briar blushed, struggling free of Sandry in that instant; his movements were futile, since their arms and legs were so thoroughly entwined. Managing to roll away, he helped Sandry up as they brushed grass off their clothes sheepishly. Nothing.

Briar, stop- Rosethorn cut herself off. Nevermind! You have to stop this magical flood, or all of Winding Circle and the Duke's city will be destroyed!

~~~~~~~

Tris ran up to the others, face red from running. "Theres something com-" Niko rapidly explained in her head through the link on her glasses.

"We heard!" they all cried. The winds were gathering stronger now, and Sandry and Daja's braids blew in the wind behind her.

The four stretched out their hands to the moving air, Kethan joining only when Daja impatiently grabbed his hand and stuck it in the chilling stream of wind. Plunging into his mind, and nearly scaring his wits out of him, she showed him how to work the magical fire in an instant.

"Stupid whats-his-name couldn't keep his pretty paws off them winds, could he?" Briar growled. The teacher's links were quickly lost as the flood of power neared the area.

"No time!" Sandry shrieked, throwing up a woven mat of light. It surrounded them, protecting their fragile bodies from debris. She prayed to the gods, any and all of them, that Winding Circle's inhabitants were wise enough to take shelter.

Joining hands, Kethan hesitatingly (until Daja told him it didn't matter, he was strong in magic anyhow), they took a deep breath and surveyed the situation.

Tris, her hair sparking slightly, groaned. "This is somewhat similar to that earthquake years ago, but instead of waves, bits of magic and lightning that ninny mage sucked up by accident are...spiraling...out and hitting directly, instead of rippling."

"They're striking areas," Sandry murmured, staring at the grim picture in her mind. "Like- like meteors, or heavenly rocks-"

Daja eased her beating heart. "Is there any chance that we could create a shield like last time?"

"We can try," Briar whistled. "But large enough to cover Winding Circle, or anything else in the path, until something can be done to stop this fighter." He paused. "Can we stop it?"

For the first time, Kethan spoke up. "The wind has already been held in crystals and storemetals, I don't think it wants to be contained again." His dark eyes were closed, and he breathed deeply. "There are no more animals in this area, i have warned the wild ones to burrow and go home."

"Good," the others said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

The wind grew closer.

They had decided on a temporary design, until they could see the sparkling power actually touch ground. So far, Sandry would spin a net, sturdy but springy, from their combined power. In theory, this could stop the slower ones, and instantly heave them into the ground in front of Winding Circle.

The first balls of orange-red light hit this barrier and bounced back. The little group cheered, until a larger one gouged a huge hole in the golden threads. Rapidly, Sandry tried to repair her web.

The spheres battled with her net, fighting to escape her trap. She shrieked in dismay as she saw a tiny bubble of fire slip past. Seeing her plight, Briar snaked ivy-like threads into her creation.

Trees, rocks, and whatnot blew in steady streams towards the temple grounds.

"Gods, what do we do about that?" Tris screamed over the wind.

Daja, attempting to yell over the noise, instead created tornado-like movements with her fingers, that would suck in debris, wind, and maybe power streaks. Tris grinned. Partial disposal was made, but the air was still thick with garbage. Hey, it was a beginning.

Suddenly, all movement stopped.

Silence was broken by Tris' small apology. "I suppose they are in waves."

Sandry shook her head. "This is the first of their storage crystals. He must have had countless more, but if they come with small breaks like this..."

They huddled down in the corner of Sandry's shield, waiting for the next bombardment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

The sky began to grow dark, spotting with silvery stars. The air chilled inside the woven shield, making its worried inhabitant's shiver.

"Guys?" Daja's small voice came out from the shadows. Calling up a speck of lightning, Tris illuminated the small area. "We better get some rest."

"Yeah," Briar added. "How 'bout we have shifts, you know, to guard?"

"Good idea," Tris replied. "But..." she added hesitantly. "I think we should keep the light on otherwise we can't see anything around us."

Kethan yawned expansively. "How can we sleep with this bright strip glowing?" He extended his hand out to the writhing light, drawing back when his hand tingled. "Although its simply amazing."

Sandry sighed. "Here." Waving her fine-boned hand, she drew up a small sheet of glowing cloth. "If you want to hide, you can." Putting Daja and Kethan behind the barrier, she sealed it off from light and sound.

Turning back to Briar and Sandry, Tris smiled. "Well, we got this shift, then me and Kethan and Daja will have it, and then Kethan and Daja again, then you and Briar again...Hows that?" she asked Sandry. "Like change every few hours? This magical storm seems to be taking its time..."

"Sure." Briar said. "Sounds great."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daja and Kethan stared at the glowing barrier. "Sandry didn't even ask!" Kethan muttered under his breath. "Stars would have been nice to see before our instant death."

Tapping on the solid glow, Daja called out. "Sandry? Sandry!"

A small hole appeared. "What?" the noble asked waspishly.

"Can we have another shift?" Daja asked plaintively. "Not quite tired yet."

Sandry sighed. "Tris? They want another time." An impatient growl came out from behind her. "Sorry guys, no can do. Tris would have to rearrange all her plans." The girl winked at her friend then sealed off the small room.

Snuggling up, the two went to sleep while their friends watched over the turbulent sky.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Rosethorn shrieked in agony. "We still can't reach them?" She stomped over to the window, staring out at the gate. Bits of wood and leaves flew by as the wind speed increased. "We can't do anything?"

Niko shook his head sadly. "They can't even come in. The wind is too fast, and any breaching of that shield Sandry put up would have them killed by flying objects."

Lark gasped and pointed to the window. "What's that?" Her finger traced the globes of fiery magic decending on Sandry's woven net of sparkles. "What...? That madman! He placed the most outrageous spells in those winds."

Moonstream looked out the window. "Wasting spells? Lightning spells?" her mouth dropped. "Flood!?"

Lark felt her eyes filling with tears of dread. Covering her mouth with her hands, she bit her lip as the shining waves of the power of their students battled the magic gone wrong.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Waking Daja and Kethan, the five threw their power into the net. The spheres, composed of pent up wind magic and stone power (or so Tris said) were voracious and were coming at a very high velocity, ripping gashes in the barrier.

Sandry, struggling with her threads, slammed a thick braid of power into an enormous orange orb. It exploded, and the mage children cheered.

Until they saw the rolling winds loaded with mist and sparks swirling in.

"There's something wrong with that one," Kethan whispered. The air smelt like...shriveling...pain...emptiness...death...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The group gasped. The sparkling mist slowly covered over the field of flowers. Before their horrified eyes, they saw the wild vegetation shrivel and turn to dust.

"Gods!" Daja cried. "What would that thing do to people and animals!?"

With a gust of wind, Tris slammed the mist back violently, again and again. "Plan now," she said grimly, "while I try and hold it off."

Briar's glowing magic vines would grow over Emelan and Winding Circle, protecting the people inside. His thorny spikes, suspended by Sandry's net, could also spear winds and fire-spheres. The pointy sharp thorns would be used by Sandry to spin the wind in, and wrap it tightly around the spindle-like shaft, sucking more and more energy into a thread.

Daja's hammers struck at the flying lightning and power bolts, flattening them out of shape. The earth's heat also took in the extra power.

Kethan? They didn't actually know what he could do. But he was there, and that was a consolation.

"Tris?" Sandry shook the struggling girl. "Let the mist go now, we can only do our plan." Tris shuddered and stopped throwing gusts at the deathly wave.

Then the mist struck their confinement.

The utter reek of hopelessness and pain, fear and hatred, depression and every other horrifying human emotion struck them. It shrieked outside, clawing at the threaded barrier.

Suddenly, their plans seemed trivial in their instant struggle for life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dammit!" Crane screamed above the shrieking winds outside the hut. "What's happening?" he cried as swirling green sparks filled Winding Circle.

Rosethorn grabbed his arm. "Crane, be quiet!" she said calmly. Sitting back in her rocking chair, she smiled. "It's just Briar."

"Ah," he croaked, his face stricken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Dear gods!" Briar screamed. The pain of the dying plants were killing him, their anguished ache knawing at his mind.

Sandry gasped. "Briar!" she cried out, hugging him tightly around the waist. Entering his mind, she surrounded his power with iridecent strands. Taking a deep breath, she threw her magic into his. Pain exploded through her frame as she took the suffering from him by putting the burden on herself.

His eyes opened violently. "Sandry!" he shook her shoulders hard, forcing her to release some of the connection. "Stop, give it back!"

She shook her head as her face paled, and moaned, "We each take part. Deal?" Coughing weakly, she smiled and squeezed his hand. Her lip bit and bleeding, she turned back to her net of silver and prepared to bombard the fire-spheres.

Curling around her shaking body, he solidified the protection on Winding Circle and Emelan.

Tris, her eyes wet at their selfless exchange, turned back to the scene. With gusts of wind, she diverted most of the death mist from the growing plants.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then it stopped.

Everyone stared at the empty sky. "What is up with this?" Daja yelled in frustration. "One second it wants to kill us, and then bam, its gone!" She slammed her hard fist into her palm.

Turning, Kethan stared at the sky and smelled the air. "It hasn't given up yet." he announced.

Tris groaned. "Because you're a mage of animals, do you have their sixth sense also?" she said sarcaustically.

He grinned. "Actually, i do."

Daja, still in working condition, gazed at Sandry and Briar, who were trembling with exhaustion. "Tris, Kethan, let them have a break. We'll take watch."

Nodding, the two agreed. "The plant's death wore them out, and they hadn't had a chance to sleep yet."

"Thanks," Briar croaked. Sandry waved a tired hand and a boundary came up over them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The noble girl rested her head on Briar's shoulder. "Briar?" she whispered, mortally afraid.

He laughed softly. "That is the absolute last time you are doing something dumb like that!" he exclaimed. "Taking the pain."

Sandry smiled. Tucking a stray lock of hair behind his ear, she kissed him. "I had to." Rolling over, they fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, the lightning storm was their easiest. Their resident weatherwitch, Tris, simply snatched the sparking fingers out of the sky and rolled them into a contained ball.

"Well," she said briskly, "that's that, right?"

"Yeah," Kethan said doubtfully. "By the way, should'nt we be trying to get the hells away?"

Daja, her eyes sparking like a forge, squeaked in dismay. "And how would we explain that we abandoned Emelan and Winding Circle?"

"Oh." He stiffened. "Well, are we going to survive a flood?"

"What?!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Rosethorn and Crane scurried about, closing doors and windows, and blocking all the cracks in the doorframes. "Hurry, we need to make this place as waterproof as possible!"

Lark shook her head. Throwing her ball of red string out the window, it situated itself in a circle around Discipline. "There we go." She breathed hard. "I can only protect until the walls of Discipline without draining myself and tapping my life."

Suddenly her face paled. "Oh, dear gods, would Sandry try the same thing? With Emelan and Winding Circle?"

Niko gasped. "The effort would surely kill her! She wouldn't...would she?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Gods!" Sandry yelled as the rain poured down. A four inch deep pool of water had fallen through her shield. Waving her hand, she made the shield water-tight. The thick line of white outside on the ground blocked any water.

Briar stepped in the water, his feet slipping in the puddle. "Ew."

Daja pressed herself to the wall. Staring out of it, she gazed at the gate of the temple community. "What's going to happen to them?" she whispered. Outside, the water level had risen to knee level.

Tris, sitting in the puddle, shuddered. "I can't move it!" she cried. Clutching her head in pain, she tried to repress the sparks that flew through her short hair. In vain, she tried to pull her magic away from the mass of glowing clouds.

Someone shook her. "Tris!" Kethan yelled in her face. Her grey eyes remained blank, staring at nothing at all.

Daja screamed for help. Seeking Tris' magic, she saw it flowing away into the storm. Reaching, her power like a hammer, she tried to reach the connection. Her glowing arm strained, unable to span the distance. Briar and Sandry tried the same, but to no avail.

"Sandry!" the metalmage sobbed. "I can't get it!" The rope of power was dwindling in Sandry's magical vision. Soon Tris' life force would be sapped, instead of her powers.

Kethan, pale with panic, gasped. "I can reach it!" he cried out. In his mind, he could feel himself shooting forward into the sky like a sparrow. His power's hand touched the cloud, but he had no means to break the tie.

Sandry grabbed his shoulder. "No time!" she yelled, drawing a bit of his magic into her hand. Grasping her own power, blended thouroughly with all of the circle's, she took a deep breath.

There was no spindle to help her now. Not a tangible one, at least.

Creating the image in her mind, she took the threads and spun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kethan stiffened. Sandry's voice echoed in his head. Kethan, i'm sorry i didn't ask you to become part of this, but we needed to save Tris. He turned and stared into her eyes, which looked back at him. They were flat, no jokes involved.

You're part of the Circle. I truly hope you don't hate me for doing this.

Trying to understand, the boy bit his lip. Experimenting, he talked in his mind. I don't mind, he said hesitantly. Is Tris going to be okay?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Daja, crying, suddenly felt her blood lurch. Turning, she slammed her magical hammer into the leeching tie of power.

Tris sagged against the ground, gasping for breath.

"Tris!" Briar shook her.

"Fine," she croaked, before leaning on the wall. "I'm sorry..." she whispered, feeling like she failed her friends. "I can't stop it, I can't even offer you any strength," she sobbed. "That cloud took it all!"

Sandry, her face streaked with tears, wrapped her own shawl around Tris' shaking shoulders. Her blue eyes stared out of her shield, at the torrent of rain streaming down around them, thanks to her magic. She shivered, rubbing warmth into her bare arms.

Such a difficult magical operation, around a large area, would surely drain her down to her life force...or more...

She had to try. Winding Circle was her home, Emelan her uncle's. If she didn't at least attempt it, she would hate herself always. And if she died trying, she had done something.

"Sandry?" Briar asked, peering concered into her eyes.

Kissing him once softly, the girl stood up and shook out her skirts. Placing her hands to the wall of the Shield, she took a deep breath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She felt the pulse of magic as it passed through her palms, through her magical weavings, into the rich soil around Emelan and Winding Circle. Her power, glowing silvery amber, formed a thick coil.

Imagining her yarn, the same ball of red she always used for protection, she created a similar shape. Intertwining it with Briar's original gleaming vines, she regarded each one carefully. The light throbbed in her brain as her strength rushed forth, weakening her knees with its intensity.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Sandry!" Briar yelled, shaking her. The girl did not respond. Her clear blue eyes, opened wide, concentrated on a far off glowing thread.

Tris, struggling to sit up, gasped. "I feel...the water rising around the temple, around a barrier..." She coughed and spashed weakly in the knee deep puddle.

"Gods." Kethan stared from Sandry to her woven wall to the deep blue water outside. The level had already reached over his head. "Will this work?" he asked, chilled to the bone at the thought of the city swept away.

Daja shook her head. "We don't know. In theory..." she trailed off, wringing out her braid. "Sandry?" she called gently. "Sandry, can you hear me?"

The pale girl, hands pressed against her shield, showed no sign of recognition. However, the bright light glowed reassuringly, blooming from her slender palms and dispersing like a shimmering cloud to gather around Winding Circle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Lark closed her eyes. "Tell me when its over."

Crossing her arms, Rosethorn paced the floor. "What is going to happen? I dont like the thought of leaving our students out there, to fend not only for themselves but for us!" she screamed. Pressing her face to the window, she strained to see through the pouring rain.

Crane recovered from his stupor. In a semblance of his usual calm, he grasped Rosethorn's arm and pulled her to a chair. He took her hand and sat her down with sheer force. "Now, Niva," he began, his face concerned.

She cut him off. "And what is Tris doing? Isnt this her area of expertise?" she rambled on. Rosethorn glared at her fellow plant mage, but still accepted his outstretched hand. "This is awful."

Niko, wiping his face with a shaking hand, breathed hard. "I think our students are 'fending' rather well." With his damp hand, he pointed.

Rosethorn stared. "Is that...Tris?"

"No," Niko replied. "That is Sandry you are seeing." Biting his lip, he added, "Tris is drained, so Sandry is taking over."

Silvery specks, almost like stars, swirled through the rain undisturbed. Forming into a shimmery half sphere, it covered the temple grounds like a bowl. Rain streamed down its sides and flood torrents poured around it.

If any of them could describe the sight at the moment, they would have said they were under an ocean. Seeing the murky blue above their heads, the waves rolling...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

"I see what she's doing!" Daja crowed. Calling forth her fire power, she hammered on sheets of magic over Sandry's second dome, enhancing the protection on Emelan.

Creating large leaves on his vines, Briar used these to cover areas of the city. They needed all the protection they could. If this storm was powerful enough to drain Tris, then they were in damn trouble.

Crouching next to Tris, Kethan whispered, "I feel so useless."

The tired mage smiled weakly. "Don't. This is a terrible experience, you don't want to be part of it. But," she added cryptically, "in a way you are."

"What?"

She smirked. "The circle! Were'nt you listening when Sandry twined your power with ours? We're all connected." Pursing her lips, she dredged up some strength. Through magic, friendship, and minds.

The redhead grinned at the consternation on the Trader's dark skinned face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Everything was going normal, Daja hammering away at her special armor, Sandry weaving, Briar's vines twining around buildings and trees. Once in every while they would stop and check on Tris, who growled at being pampered. "Like a helpless ninny!" she exclaimed.

And just to infuriate her, Daja petted her on the head. "Good Little Bear!"

"Oh, be quiet."

Kethan, looking up at the cloud-darkened sky, called on his animal instincts. "I suppose the storm may be one third spent already," he remarked, staring at the swirling mass. "It seems so easy, not like what mimanders do," he told Daja.

The dark girl grinned. "Boy, thats because what the mimanders do is mostly a crock of spoiled milk." Jumping to her feet, she swirled imaginary yellow robes around her arms and made a mock serious face. "Winds, come to me and submit to my will!" she play-acted.

Kethan laughed. "Thats sacrilidge...but its true."

Tris looked up. "No horsing around, metalmage," she teased. Her face turned serious though, and she gently reminded her of their pressing job at hand. Daja nodded, and gravely returned to saving the cities.

~~~~~~~~~~

Half an hour later, they were still struggling to strengthen Sandry's original misty shield, which had turned out to not be as sturdy as they had hoped. They had nearly finished half of Winding Circle and two thirds of Emelan when Sandry faltered.

Briar knelt by her. "Sandry, are you all right?" He shook her shoulder, to no avail. Splashing the cold water on her bare back, the plant mage startled her out of her trance.

She shook her head. "I'm almost run dry," she admitted, out of breath. "Keeping those blockers up for so long..." she trailed off. Standing bravely, the girl replaced her hands on their glimmering wall. "I'll be fine for now."

He snorted. "I bet."

"Really!" she insisted, kissing him, which seemed to make him more docile. Wrapping hsi arms around her shivering body, she continued to work on the vital protection needed to save her uncle and her home.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sandry was acutely aware as the last dribbles of magic flowed out of her hands and into the shield that Daja and Briar were so desperately strengthening. The stormy waters were well over the city now, the sparkling tides hundreds of feet above even their shield.

"Briar!" The cry burst from her lips as she collapsed into the cold knee deep puddle. The boy stepped hastily over to her.

Lifting her from the chilling cold water, he propped the girl against the wall. "Sandry!"

"I'm almost dr-" she began, then turned back to the city. Peering closer, Sandry saw trickles of water slowly draining into Winding Circle through weak spots in her glimmering cloud.

If she told Briar she had no more magic, he would forbid her to help. And without her temporary shields, the city would surely be overtaken by the immense water pressure above them.

"Lark," Sandry whispered. "Rosethorn, Niko, Little Bear, Crane, Moonstream, Frostpine, Kirel, Uncle-" Feeling resolve enter her mind as she recited her friend's names, the tired girl turned around to face the city.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Briar stared at Sandry in confusion. The girl appeared to be chanting under her breath, breathing hard as her teeth chattered.

"Sandry love," he said hurriedly, worried out of his mind. "Are you doing all right?"

Turning to him with a brilliant smile, Sandry gazed at him gently. "Of course," she said calmly. Adjusting herself in his arms, the girl continued to smile to herself. "Just don't let go," she murmured.

So, the chuffle he was, turned back to creating vines painstakingly. His power was running low, and even Daja's plated protection was getting thinner and weaker. And that was when he saw the raw, ragged gasp of Sandry's magic streaming from her hands.

"Sandry!" he cried, shaking her. Briefly she looked at him, but returned to her work. "Stop it, you know you're tapping your life's energy! Sandry!"

Tris, sitting, yanked Sandry down on the otherside. "Can't you get her to stop?" the redhead begged, staring at the wispy white threads streaming from Sandry's palms.

She turned to look at her friends. "If i stop now, Winding Circle and Emelan will be crushed by the weight of the water. Have we worked this hard to save them, only to give up? I will not quit, or die trying!"

Kethan and Daja, their eyes pleading, joined the small group. "Sandry!"

Determined, the girl turned back to them. "Daja, keep plating the shields, they are very weak."

Briar was miserable. "Sandry, if you're going to use up your life, then use my power!" He offered his hands desperately, filled with emerald green plant magic. "You can use it for something, right? Just don't waste your life!"

"Sandry!" Tris choked out, "You are not going to die." She offered her hand, too. "Here. I only have a little left, but use it." When her friend hesitated, she scowled. "Now, Sandry!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~
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ToRtaLLaN TaLeS II
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