Tika smirked. "Why else would I want to kill them all."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Xavier quickly made his way back to the tribe. He was greeted by his second-in-command, Graithier, when he entered the cave that was the home of the Stonestar tribe.

"Sir, where have you been? I've gotten accounts of the attack from the three that had gone with you when they came back. But, they said something about a treaty with the Nightshade..." the tall, burly man said.

"I was hunting Paled spies. And yes, there is a treaty with the other two tribes now. But only temporary. All three have grouped together to take down the Paleds.

"And when this is done, the treaty will be over, or so is the current agreement. I want all who are able to weild a weapon readied for battle at a moments notice. And send a messanger to the Nightshade saying that if she has a plan to take down that cursed race, then we will willingly oblige to the plan as long as not too much is at rist in said plan," Xavier said as he made his way to his quarters. Graithier nodded, and walked off briskly in another direction.

Xavier knew he could count on the stalky man to do what he was told to right away, and very well. The two had been friends as kids, and Graithier's family had even taken him in when he was first orphaned before he officially took charge of the tribe. Xavier trusted that man with his life, and knew he owed him much, though he took nothing but orders.

With a sigh, the tribe leader sat down on the small cot that was his bed. He stripped off his boots, belt, and cloak and layed down on his back, staring at the celling. So far it had been a long night, and since the moment he stepped foot in that glade, he hadn't been able to take Alena's angelic, yet grim face out of his head...

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(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08

Gareth smiled. "I like your spirit, Tika." he replied.
Alena only nodded. "I could not agree with you more," she said.
Throughout the entire night, Alena had done her best to act as if nothing unusual happened. Yet, try as she might, she could not get Xavier's handsome yet stern face from her mind. She could understand the pressures that must be upon him as leader of the Stonestar. It was probably best if she forgot about him. They were from opposing tribes and though it seemed as if they were to have a truce, she knew it would just be temporary. Yet, how could she forget him? The man saved her life, and she felt drawn to him as she had never been drawn to another. She sighed inwardly, careful to not reveal to much of her emotions-for she made a promise that she would keep her meeting with Xavier a secret-and that was a promise she intended to keep.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Tika smiled back. "I should sleep, we all should." she said. as she retunred to her bed she smiled a change in the air and followed it to the woman who was the leader. "M'lady, are ok." she asked kneeling down.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Aryann was sticky with sweat, she was shaking uncomtrolably. "No, Kaylee, no." she muttered as she rolled over again.

Kaylee was in the midst of the battle. The parried, thrusted, and killed another tribemember. She got caught up in the heat of the battle, and she wished she hadn't.
Aryann tried to keep an eye on Kaylee in the chaos. She lost track of her after a few minutes. When she had a moment to rest and look around she saw what was a nightmare. A nightmare that really happened. Aryan was frozen in place for a moment. Kaylee was heading toward the leader of the Stonestar tribe; Xavier. She took off running to Kaylee. She hoped she wasn't too late.
"Kaylee!" she screamed. She pushed one of her warriors out of the way. She parried a blow from a Stonestar warrior, then kept running. "Kaylee!" her voice went hoarse with the volume of her scream.

"Kaylee..."Aryann mumbled.

Kaylee made it to Xavier. She looked frightened, but willing to give her life for her tribe. Aryann knew she would. Deep inside she knew what was going to happen. She prayed to whatever gods were out there and kept running.

Kaylee stepped up to Xavier, he stepped closer to her. She wasn't afraid. She was calm, as if she knew what was going to happen. And she accepted it. She attacked him, but he deflected every blow. Then he was offensive. He attacked her with such strength that every blow she parried she felt her energy draining from her body. She knew what was going to happen.
Aryann stood frozen in horror as she watched. She knew there was nothing she could do.
Kaylee tried to attack Xavier, but he got to her first. She stood there for a moment, a cold feeling entered her body. She looked Xavier for a moment before her vision blurred. "I'm sorry." she said, as she fell to her knees. Xavier pulled his sword out of her body. A soft breeze rushed onto her face. She closed her eyes at it whirled around her. She exhaled for the last time. She lay on her side on a body-strewn battlefield.
Aryann finally was unfrozen. She was oblivious to all around her. Everything seemed to slow down. Time seemed to stop. She took a slow step, then ran to Kaylee's body. She dropped to her knees beside her. She lifted her body and placed her head onto her lap. She looked at her peaceful face. She knew what would happen. She died for her tribe. Aryann's tears fell onto her sister's pale face. "Kaylee," she said sobbing, "I'm sorry, Kaylee. I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." she repeated the phrase over and over as if it were the only words she knew, "I'm sorry, Kaylee, I'm sorry..."

" I'm sorry, Kaylee. I'm sorry..." Aryann said softly, pain filled her voice. A single tear, a diamond on her pale face, rolled down her cheek and fell onto the ground.

((That made me cry.))

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Tika frowned, who was Kaylee? "M'lady, I need you to wake up please." she said and shook the woman gently.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Aryann was deep in an abyss of dreams. There was nothing she could do to wake up. She just rolled over and repeated, "I'm sorry, Kaylee." she paused, then said, "Goodbye." another tear ran down her cheek. Then she fell into an unconscious state of mind. She saw things from the past, things she wished to forget yet remember at the same time. Things she wished had never happened but knew they had to. Things that changed her heart and her life.

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Tika frowned. then she smelled it, blood, a festering wound. Looking she found it and swore. She felt around et and realise what had happened. "Got sho and didn't get the whole arrow out." she told her self and grabbed her dagger. "I aplogize, but if I don't do this, you could die, your people need you." she said and made a small cut.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Reed, Aryann's second in command, was checking around with everyone. After saying hello to Alena and Gareth, he was walking past where Aryann was sleeping when he saw Tika. She was holding a knife and making a small cut in her shoulder. He ran over and drew his sword. "What are you doing?" he almost yelled, but then looked around to see if anyone had heard. A few looked up.

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Tika diddn't looke away, she had to be careful. "Your leader has a fever, an arrow peice is in her shoulder and It needs to be taken out because it is infected. I know where it is. I am trying to safe her life."

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Reed nodded silently. He watched as she worked on Aryann's shoulder. He looked at her and realized she had a fever. He glanced around, not wanting to leave his leader, but he needed to get someone. The closest person he saw was Alena. "Alena!" he called, trying to sound casual. He didn't want to alert everyone that their leader might die, or that her life was in the hands of a Paled. "Please come here." he called to Alena again.

_________________


Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

Gareth and Alena nodded at Reed as he passed them.

"You had better get some rest," Gareth told her. Alena nodded and stretched out on the grass as Gareth rose and went over to Tika and Aryann. Comprehending the situation at once, he knelt beside Tika. "What can I do to help?" he asked.
__________________________________________
Alena stared up at the stars for a bit, thinking about Xavier. She tried for several unsucessful minutes to go sleep, but when sleep would not come she rose with a frustrated sigh and limped to where her brother, Tika and Aryann were. Seeing her leader's feverish condition, her eyes widened in horror as she stood beside Gareth. "Aryann!" she whispered unable to hide the fear in her voice.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

After making the cut, Tika used her keen sight to see the piece, even with all the blood that was starting to comout. reaching in with her fingers she was ablet to feel the peice of arrow and pull it out. Thats when she hear Gareth. "She needs to be stiched up." she said, and she tossed the item she removed.

_________________
Where do you go when your running away,
The cost of stopping is too great to pay.
~Amanda (saw this written in a washroom stall at a movie theater)

Aryann started thrashing violently, the fever had taken over her body. The shaking which had ceased started racking her body with involuntary seisure-like shacking.

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel

"I'll do it," Alena replied.
With that Gareth quickly went to gather the supplies, bringing with him the needle, thread-like string and herbs. Returning in mere moments he handed them to Alena.
Alena nodded at her brother as she took the items. First she placed herbs around the wound, to numb the area and then began to stitch the wound. She worked fast enough, yet slower than in the daylight as she only had the stars and moon for guidance. Yet, she was able enough and soon enough had the wound stitched tightly so that it would not open again.

_________________


AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

"Is there anything you can do to make her sleep?" Reed asked no one in particular. "I think it would be better if she wasn't rolling around and everything." he said, concern in his voice.

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Thanks Nurratiel, *Ennostiel*, PD, and Githoniel