Chapter 1: The Awakening

Disclaimer: Only Kalie Thell, Arty, Merin Kross, and Austin Kross belong to us. Everyone else and the general plot belong to the people associated with the making of Neverwinter Nights 2. Thank you.

**Me and my sister (who goes by the name of Kimi Takami and can be found on Deviantart under that name) wrote this. However, she does not have a fanfiction account so if you enjoy this story, please send her compliments too, on her deviantart account. Thanks, I know she will appreciate it!**

Kalie walked through the mist- fog thicker than a sheepskin blanket. So thick, it seemed to cling at her petite form, wrapping its tendrils around her, reaching and snatching at her arms and legs. She didn't know where she was but something compelled her forwards. She was alone. Completely alone. She hated being alone. But there was a light ahead-like a swinging lantern. Was it? She quickened her pace. She ran. The light drew closer. Closer. She reached out for it. She knew if she could just reach it her loneliness would end. Her fingers brushed the warmth of the light and... She awoke to a large, black, furry face staring down at her with grey eyes. Whiskers tickled her cheeks.

"Arty!" Kalie said drowsily, "Off, now!"

The panther slid to the floor. "Fine, I won't wake you for your important events anymore, then. I'll just stay outside like a good little pussy-cat..." Artemis grumbled. "After all, your father doesn't want my 'mud-covered paws' in this dwelling anyways..." She turned to stalk off out the door.

"Important events? I don't remember any-Oh my gosh! The Harvest Fair! I completely forgot!" Kalie sprang out of her bed and scampered to her dresser.
"Forgot?" Artemis scoffed. "That much is apparent..."

"Look Arty, if you're gonna stay in a bad mood today, you can just go back to bed." Kalie said as she gathered her clothes.

"And miss you humiliate yourself, yet again? No thanks, I'd rather stay and watch." Kalie turned and stuck her tongue out at her feline companion before slipping a shirt over her head.

She heard Artemis sigh in her mind, and-although she didn't hear it- knew she had slid out the door and down the hall. Kalie sighed. She knew the only reason Artemis hung around was because of the debt she owed Kalie- the debt of saving her life. She had been the runt of the litter, and born into the circus life. When that little traveling circus made its way to West Harbor, and it had been the panther's act, Arty (who was only just old enough to walk around without tripping over herself) had refused to budge. She had been too frightened to do anything but mew and stare. When the ring master brought his whip down upon her, Kalie- the tiniest Half-Elven five-year-old the world had ever seen- stopped the show single handed. She vowed to protect the "little-kitty" even if it cost her her own life. The ring master had laughed and told her that "little-kitty" was a wild, savage beast, and that she should go back to her seat. So, naturally, she kicked him in the shins, called him a few choice names no five-year-old should know, and told Artemis to follow. Somehow that name enticed the baby feline's soul, and so she did as commanded. Kalie had never held that debt over Arty's head, but the cat had taken it upon herself to see it fulfilled.

Kalie looked at her messy, short-cut hair in her tiny mirror atop her dresser. She was always a bit 'iffy about her hair. Keeping her hair short kept it out of her face, but sometimes she wanted it longer. The girls in town were always telling her she had such potential if she could just keep her face clean, brush out all those tangles, and let her hair grow a bit longer. It seemed her hair was forever in knots with twigs stuck in it, and her face was always dirty from spending so much time outside in the wilderness. Well at least shooting arrows didn't require beauty, or she'd be screwed. She grabbed her gloves and ran downstairs.

She tried to silently slip past her father, but his ears were even sharper than hers- and that was saying something.

"Ahh, my foster-daughter is up and dressed I see." He rose from his fire-side easy chair. "So, off to see the fair then, are you?" She nodded, slowly edging toward the door. "Well, I won't delay you long. As you know, every year I've been required to man the archery contest. Consequently, I have no time to attend to my other business in town." Deaghun gave Kalie a stern look when he saw her foot slide every so slightly towards the door.

Artemis sat by the door grooming herself. She wasn't dirty at all, and Kalie realized she was laughing at her nonchalantly. Kalie sighed and stopped moving towards the door. She wasn't going anywhere before she received a lecture from her father.

"I would ask only a simple task of you. There is a merchant in town today- Galen. I believe you are familiar with him?" Kalie nodded. Deaghun continued. "Last year I requested a Duskwood bow from him in exchange for any furs I may gather during my hunts. I want you to fetch the bow for me. My furs are in the chest there by the kitchen. Any left-over gold he gives you after you purchase the bow you may keep as your allowance for the season."

Kalie sighed as she collected the furs from the chest beside their makeshift kitchen. Her father wasn't the most elaborate cook in the world. Soon after rescuing Artemis Kalie wandered off into the wilderness and learned to fend for herself- and that included cooking. Of course, one can get tired of rabbit, bass, and swamp foul quickly. She was much more pleased with her own cooking than her father's, to be certain, but whenever she was craving something new she'd wander over to the Starling house. One of her best friends - Bevil- lived there, and his mother was an excellent cook. Kalie sighed again as she shoved the last fur into her satchel and turned to her father for a dismissal.

"Well, I suppose you're anxious to see the fair. You're friends will be waiting for you. Go on." Deaghun made a shooing motion with his hand and Kalie bolted for the door.

"Come on, Arty!" Kalie called over her shoulder as she rushed past the panther out the door.

Artemis sighed. "I don't know why I put up with this, I really don't." She chased after her mistress and closed the door behind them with a flick of her tail.

Kalie was running at top speed toward the bridge that separated her father's home from the rest of the village. She was going so fast, in fact, that she nearly ran head-on into her friend Bevil Starling.

"Kalie! There you are! We were starting to wonder if you'd ever show at all!" He said catching her so that they didn't both fall to the ground. This was not difficult, as Kalie was much smaller than most Half-Elves her age- 18- and Bevil was exceptionally strong, but none too bright. Still he was kind. Actually, he was about the biggest wimp Kalie had ever met. He had joined the town militia in hopes of gaining some courage. It worked, but only just.

"The whole village but you and your father have already shown up." Amie said. Amie's parents had died in the war years ago when she was just barely born. The same war had killed Kalie's mother and Deaghun's wife. She was the resident wizard's -Tarmas's- apprentice, and she lived with him as well. Kalie had always felt close to Amie, as they had two things in common: No real parents, and living with unemotional yet cranky old men.

"Well, come on then! We can't just stand here talking. We've got a harvest cup to win!" Kalie grinned and her companions grinned back. Artemis just rolled her eyes best she could (being a cat and all). They promptly set out for the village square to sign up.

..:::..

Merin knew she was dreaming. It was unsettling. Not the dream itself, per say, but the fact that she had been having this same dream for many night now. It had almost been a whole week that this dream had haunted her. It wasn't a dream of falling or flying or being chased by something unknown, like most people would complain of. No, she was walking- just walking. But it was so impenetrably dark that not even the flashlight she held helped her find her way. Her conscious told her to stop walking- the unknown lay ahead. But if you avoided the unknown, who could report the danger coming, or the joys that could be had?

She saw smoke- or perhaps it was fog? She couldn't tell. She couldn't smell the smell of smoke, but then when had anyone smelled anything in a dream? She did hear, though. She heard footsteps- footsteps so light they almost weren't there at all. She moved the light beam from her flashlight in the direction of the noise and finally stopped walking. She didn't fear that the footsteps were made by a predator. She wanted them to come, yet she knew (and how she knew, she did not know) that those footsteps would change her life forever.

A shape started to form through the smoke. A black outline. Black upon black, but Merin saw it, clear as day. This shadow of a person grew closer. It was reaching out for her. Should she be afraid? No. She held out her hand confidently to the form. She felt its fingers come within inches of her own.

Had she lunged out and grabbed its hand, perhaps the dream would have continued on, and she would finally know who this shadow was. But she hadn't, and now she lay awake staring up at her ceiling. She rolled over and looked at her alarm clock. As she did this it turned on, the minute changing the hour to seven o'clock. She needed to get to school, and she needed to get Austin up as well.

Merin tossed her blankets off and sat on the edge of her bed rubbing her eyes. She sat there for a few moments, then sighed and stood. She dressed and brushed her hair quickly, then she walked down the hall to her brother's room. Austin was only ten, where as Merin herself was twenty-eight. Merin's mother had died giving birth to her and their father had died in a car crash six years ago along with Austin's mother. Merin had raised Austin since then. New York was a hard place to grow up in, but it certainly wasn't the worst.

She flipped on the light as she walked in. Austin whimpered and pulled the blanket up over his head. She gave a small smile as she pulled back the covers and kissed him on top of his head. "Come on, Austin. You've got to get up now."

Austin grunted. He rolled out of bed and turned on the light next to his bed, yawning. "At least it's Friday..." He mumbled. Merin grinned and nodded. She went downstairs and made breakfast while Austin got dressed.

Merin assembled her things into her satchel. After she walked Austin to school she would go to school herself- medical school, as the case may be. After school she'd be off to work. She worked as the receptionist at a doctor's office, but hey, you've got to start somewhere, right? She placed a scrub inside her bag.

Austin stumbled down the stairs, yawning all the while. He was still tired but he ate his breakfast quickly. When all was said and done, he went and collected his things as well. Merin locked the door behind them and walked Austin to school. She had no idea it would be her last day home.

..:::..

Kalie's arrow struck true, landing neatly through the last bottle. It cracked and shattered. She had successfully completed the archery contest. Amie- who had been praised by Kalie and Bevil as one of the most talented wizards there ever was- had easily won the Tourney of Talent competition. Two down two to go. They still had to win either the brawl or the Knave's Challenge to claim the cup, and both to get the special gift.

"Whoo-hoo! Go Kalie!" She heard Bevil cheer from behind her.

"Yeah, Kalie the: the expert marksman! Er, woman..." Amie laughed.

Kalie grinned and looked to her father- the real expert- for some sign of approval. Her hopeful look was answered back by a blank face, but a curt nod. She pursed her lips as her smile faded. She slung her bow over her shoulder and walked up to her father.

"Well done. All ten- a perfect score. You obviously learned your lessons well. You have a marksman's instinct- that much is plain. I will remain here 'till days end for those who wish to shoot for fun. Go on, there's still more of the fair to see. And I thank you again for retrieving the bow for me."

Kalie nodded. An unemotional display from her father, as always- why should she have expected anything more? She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Come on, Kalie, let's go kick some butt in the brawl."

She turned and looked over her shoulder at Bevil and smiled sweetly at him. "Gladly," She said, "as long as it's a Mossfeld behind my foot's landing on." Both Amie and Bevil laughed. They walked off without giving Kalie's foster-father another glance.

As they made their way to the fighting ring they ran straight into the three people they would have been much happier never meeting at all. The Mossfeld brothers stood in front of the three friends (and the cat), blocking their path.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is, brothers. The little shrimp and her wimpy followers..." Wyl Mossfeld sneered down at Kalie. Ward Mossfeld chuckled from behind him and did his best to look menacing. Webb Mossfeld shied away and was obviously trying to pretend he was invisible. Kalie reconsidered her earlier statement. Bevil wasn't the biggest wimp she knew- Webb was.

"We heard you won two competitions already. Well, have fun trying to dislodge us. We've been the harvest brawl champions three years running."

"Have fun trying to stop us, Wyl. As they say, all things must come to an end." Kalie retorted. She tried not to let it show that she was actually nervous talking to Wyl. Truth being, although he drove her crazy with his huge ego, Kalie actually found Wyl attractive and secretly hoped all his jibes were just jokes.

"Humph. That's true, but they never said when. I intend to stay the champion until I can't swing a club anymore."

"Really? Well, maybe you'll feel differently about that when I dislodge your shoulder and you'll back down..." Bevil cut in.

"Oh, ho, ho! What's this? Protecting your little girlfriend, Starling? What, you think she can't try to insult me all by herself? Tut-tut." Wyl gave Bevil a wicked grin.

Bevil's fists balled as he clenched his jaw. "She's not my girlfriend..."

"Ahh, I see..." Wyl gave Kalie a seductive smile and stepped closer to her. She held her ground. She refused to be intimidated by him. Artemis growled a warning at Wyl as he pulled his body inches from Kalie's, but he didn't back down. "Well, if you really are above an idiot like Starling here, then what would you say to stopping by my house later tonight?" He whispered. Kalie shivered.

Bevil made a noise something like a growl. Amie put a hand on his shoulder to try and calm him enough notto pound Wyl to the ground.

Kalie desperately wanted to be with him, but she didn't want to lose her virginity to him as long as he was still acting like a pig. Besides, saying yes to that was as good as loosing the brawl to him. After a deep breath Kalie glared up at him. "I'd say no, of course." She said in what she hoped was a confident voice, "I enjoybeing a virgin, thank you very much. I wouldn't give myself to scum like you, regardless." Amie snickered at the shock on Wyl's face.

He took a step back and glared at the Half-Elf. "Fine. Your loss, then. I'll see you in the brawl, Kalie- on your knees! Come on, brothers." Wyl turned and left. Ward sneered over his shoulder at Bevil and Amie as he followed Wyl.

Webb looked rather shaky as he approached Kalie and her friends. "Don't mind them." He said softly so his brothers would not hear. "They don't mean anything that comes out of their mouths- honest! I'm- I'm sorry if they bother you..."

"Webb! Get over here!" Ward's voice rang out. Webb squeaked and ran off. Kalie sighed in relief. She was glad that conversation was over.

Bevil gave Amie a harsh look. "You should have just let me punch him. Gods know, the fat braggart deserves it..."

"That may be the case, but save your strength for the brawl, big fella'." Amie lowered her hand from his shoulder.

"I don't see why you tease that boy like that. It's obvious you both lust after one another..." Arty's voice sounded in Kalie's mind.

"It's only obvious to you..." She told Arty telepathically. "It isobvious that Amie has a crush on Webb though, and that Bevil has a crush on me, but they can't know I like Wyl. That would throw our friendship out the window." Artemis snorted in reply.

"Well, come on. After that, I definitely think some butt-kicking in an order." Amie said.

The three companions (and the cat) walked off to the local cleric, who was apparently running the brawl.

"Brother Merring? You're running the harvest brawl?" Amie blurted astonished.

"Yes, well... In truth, I volunteered. Otherwise I'd be running back and forth from the church all day. Those Mossfeld boys sure cause a lot of damage..." Merring responded. Bevil snorted in disgust.

"Well, we'd like to join your competition, regardless. The Mossfelds are in for a serious disappointment." Kalie said, pulling forth her quarterstaff and laying her other few weapons on the table nearby.

"Very well. Bevil, Amie, would you please deposit your non-blunt weapons as well, please? I'll go over the rules."

"There are rules?" Bevil asked laying down his longsword. "I thought it was just a straight fight...?"

"It is, which is why there are these three rules. No magic- that means you can only use that quarterstaff of yours, Amie." Amie nodded and dropped her dagger on the table. Bevil picked up a club from the other table there. "Only blunt weapons- which means none of your arrows, Kalie." She unclasped and dropped her quiver. "And finally, no bets" Merring finished.

Kalie stood there blinking. "But why not? It's not like it'll effect our fighting..."

"You never know. It may do just that."

Kalie sighed and looked down at her feline companion. "I don't suppose she's gonna be allowed in either, huh?" Merring shook his head. "Figures... Fine, Arty, you get to sit back and watch us make fools of ourselves then, I guess."

Artemis grinned at her. "A pleasure, to be sure." She went off to sit at the fence line to watch the fight.

"Well, you all look set then. I expect a nice, clean fight from all of you. Go on." Merring shooed them towards the fighting pit.

Kalie lead her friends into the fighting ring and Amie locked the gate behind them. A girl, her brother, and the brother's friend (so it seemed) leaned against the fence on the other side of the ring. Kalie, Bevil, and Amie stood in a triangle formation with Kalie at the head. Out of the corner of her eye, Kalie saw Wyl lean against the fence on the outside of the ring, grinning over at Kalie.

Kalie gripped her staff with both hands. She was going to prove she wasn't the wimp he thought she was. When he saw that she really could fight, maybe he would want an honest relationship with her, instead of the lust filled one he sought.

Their opponents pushed themselves off the fence and carefully took a few steps forward. Unexpectedly, the girl yelled out "Charge!" and advanced on the three friends. Kalie braced herself for the impact of the girls club on her staff. Bevil tackled the brother with his club while Amie stayed close to Kalie's side to ward off the other boy.

Bevil's opponent was the first one down. As he turned to assist his friends, Kalie brought her staff against the base of the girl's neck and made her black out. Both Bevil and Kalie turned to help Amie- who was badly bruised by this point- against the other boy. It wasn't long before he was down as well. Breathing heavily, Kalie looked towards Wyl. Even from that distance, she could see the look of discontent on his face as he snorted and looked away. She grinned. Wyl had just admitted to her that she was a good fighter. She was fairly sure that he'd be a bit uneasy around her now, but it also meant that he would underestimate her when it came time for them to fight each other.

A couple of the villagers came in and picked up the three unconscious participants. Kalie, Bevil, and Amie stood in the ring for a few moments making sure all of them were okay. Merring was finishing healing the girl and the two boys when the trio walked out of the ring. Merring healed Amie's bruises when he'd finished with the unconscious ones.

"Well played- all of you! Kalie, Bevil, and Amie will be advancing onto the next round." Merring turned to the trio as the others walked off. "I'm actually sorry about this, but those were your only competitors besides the Mossfelds. You'll need to speak with them when you want to enter the ring. Good luck!"

Kalie sighed and turned in the direction the brothers were standing, only to be stopped by Amie. She looked worried.

"Kalie, I... I don't think I can do this. I'm no fighter, I mean, I can hardly throw a good punch. I don't train with my staff as often as I probably should... I could hardly keep that guy from hitting me while trying to hit him too!"

Kalie put a hand on the young wizard's shoulder and smiled at her. "Amie, you don't have to try and hit them. Just try to keep them from hitting you- it's enough, trust me. As long as you're distracting one of them, Bevil and I can take care of the rest. I suggest you take Webb though, since he's less likely to try and knock you senseless." Amie gave a nervous laugh and nodded at the Half-Elf.

"Don't worry, Amie. I'm so mad at them right now, I could take on all three of them at once for you." Bevil said.

Amie gave him a harsh look. "According to Georg, they always beat you on the practice field by making you upset. And I think he'd know best, seeing as he's the head of the town militia." Bevil just stared at the ground and mumbled incoherent rabble- most likely curses.

"Come on you two. We can't win the cup by arguing..." Kalie said, finally letting go of Amie's shoulder and heading towards the Mossfelds. The brothers simply glared at their approach. Webb seemed to be having a hard time being intimidating, however.

"Nice fight. I think you nearly passed out, after all. That little girl gave you a nice spanking, didn't she?" Wyl said. He looked thoroughly mad, yet uneasy. It seemed as though he wasn't quite sure he meant what he said. Ward snickered.

"Stow it, Mossfeld! You're not smart enough to be funny." Amie's fists balled as she spoke.

"Well, at least I'm not an insecure, foolish little child like you are, Fern. You're always following Thell and Starling around like a bloodfly- singin' of their reekin' praises!" Wyl retorted.

"Hey! What did Amie ever do to you, Wyl? If you've got a problem with her, you take it up with me- got it?" Kalie snapped. Wyl snorted in response.

His comment had made Kalie angry. He had no right to vent and use Amie as the target, and he certainly had no right using there last names. That was something only close friends or elders did. Thell had been Kalie's mother's last name. Instead of adopting her foster father's last name, she had decided to let some part of her mother live on. Wyl had no right to use something dear to her as an insult.

"You gonna stand there and argue with my brother all day, or do you wanna fight?" Ward joined the conversation.

"Hey, chill Bro. I think we should raise the stakes a little more before we beat them to pulp. What do you say, Thell? How about a friendly little wager, huh?" Wyl's face twisted into a sly grin.

Bevil glared at Wyl. "Betting is against the rules, Wyl. We won't do it."

"Right" Kalie agreed, "We don't want your money. You probably stole it anyways. Besides, I don't expect you'd ever actually pay up."

Wyl's smile only broadened. "I never said we were playing for cash..." He looked Kalie up and down to make his point.

Kalie felt her cheeks start to heat up. She tried to stop herself by quickly throwing out, "Allbetting is against the rules, Wyl. Besides, there's nothing you have that I could possibly want."

For the second time a scowl crossed his face as Wyl looked down at her. "Fine. Come on brothers, we'll fight these cowards anyways!" and so the six of them entered the ring, glaring at each other.

..:::..

Merin stood waving as Austin ran through the school doors. This was their usual goodbye, anymore. She used to give him a kiss before he ran off, but that embarrassed him, so eventually she stopped. Sometimes she felt more like his mother than his sister. This feeling wasn't uncommon though. After all, she had to play the motherly role in Austin's life. She was lucky enough to have had a caring stepmother- Austin's real mom- but both she and their father had died in a horrible crash when Austin was only four. He'd blocked out all memories of them, as far as Merin knew.

As Merin thought this, walking down the street, she sighed. She knew Austin was reaching an age where he needed a fatherly figure, just as she had needed a mother all those years ago. There was never enough time in her life for a relationship, though. Not that she knew any men to fit the role anyways.

As she walked on, she was vaguely aware of a blue car slowing down to ride beside her in the street. Finally she became paranoid enough to look at it. The convertible was driven by man with neatly trimmed black hair- grey at the tips- and dark blue eyes. No wait, they were dark violet.

"Need a lift, miss?" He smiled gently at her. He looked slightly old and his shoulders sagged. He wore a grey suit and a red baseball cap sat on the seat next to him. Merin eyed him suspiciously. He looked a little too old to be in the kidnapping business, but looks can be deceiving, she thought.

He smiled again. "Don't worry, Miss. I don't have any intention of harming you. I'm a teacher at Cornell University. Correct me if I'm mistaken, but I think I've seen you there...?"

After a few wary moments she replied, "Um, yes. I am a student there."

"Well hop in then. You're going to be late if you walk." After a few more hesitant moments Merin decided he seemed truthful and trustworthy enough, and so she opened the car door. He placed his cap on his head so she wouldn't sit on it. "All in? Good, let's get going then." And he took off.

..:::..

The Mossfelds were as tough to beat as they were famed to be. Kalie, Amie, and Bevil were already battered and bruised. Bevil was channeling all his anger into his club and going for Wyl's throat. Amie was winded, but she managed for the most part to keep Webb from hitting her. Kalie was having one hell of a time keeping Ward from knocking her to the ground.

Out of the corner of her eye Kalie saw Amie finally get a hit in, and it was an excellent one. She hit his collar bone- hard. Webb cried out in pain and crumpled to the ground. Amie fainted out of sheer exhaustion. Kalie grinned at their momentary victory, but she had been too badly distracted by Amie and Webb. Ward became angry at his brother's fall and upon seeing Kalie distracted, kicked her in the shin and then brought his club down on her ribs. Kalie yelped and fell to the ground. Ward was so mad that he raised his club to strike again.

With one hand clutching her broken leg, she dropped her staff and threw up her other hand to stop his attack. "I Yield! Stop!" Kalie looked up at her attacker with a pained, and scared expression, knowing full well that she looked like a kicked puppy, and was hoping he had a soft spot for injured, adorable things.

Ward looked momentarily confused by this display but then decided to turn on Bevil. Unfortunately- or fortunately, depending on how you look at it- Ward got elbowed in the face and took a club to the gut before he could even turn around fully. He stumbled back and then fell to lean on the fence. Bevil returned immediately to Wyl after his assault on Ward.

Kalie watched the remaining two fighters carefully. Bevil had an angry look of determination set on his face. Wyl showed a taunting smile, but his eyes showed the fear he truly felt. Two of his opponents had fallen, but so had his brothers. Kalie knew Wyl would never forfeit the harvest cup to Kalie and her friends- especially Bevil. After a few more moments, Bevil became so maddened by Wyl's taunting look, that he flew into a frenzy. He was merciless as his blows rained down on Wyl. Finally, Wyl crumpled to the ground, his eyes glaring up at Bevil with cold hatred. The crowd outside of the ring busted into applause. They had won.

Merring rushed in with and excited yet shocked look on his face. "I was beginning to think it wasimpossible to beat them, and yet you did it! Congratulations!" He said as he helped Amie to her feet. Amie was still panting and a bit wobbly. Merring then healed Ward's wounds, as he was the closest.

Amie walked over and knelt down by Webb. "Probably apologizing..." Kalie thought.

"I don't suppose you'd let me eat him now, would you? After he nearly beat you to death, I mean." Artemis's voice sounded in her mind. Kalie tried to turn around without moving her leg. Artemis was walking towards her with a serious expression. Kalie had expected her to be joking, but she seemed completely serious.

"I don't think anybody else would be very pleased with you if you did, Arty..." She thought back.

Artemis snorted. She sat down beside Kalie and stared down at her leg. "Your leg... you got hurt..."

"Really? I hadn't noticed." Kalie sighed, "I didn't think you'd ever even care."

"Why wouldn't I care? I may tease you constantly, young one, but that doesn't mean I don't honestly care..."

"I'm older than you Arty, so shut your trap."

"In Human years, yes, but I'm a cat, in case you didn't notice..."

"My, my. Kalie, however did you manage to get such an injury?" Merring plopped down next to her and began to heal her leg.

"Oh, I don't know; why don't you go ask Ward? I'm sure he knows..." She said sourly.

"And you're suddenly in a foul mood as well. This just lovely..."

Kalie sighed, "Sorry, Brother Merring, you can blame it on Arty."

Artemis glared at Kalie. "Fine, next time you get thrown into a fighting ring, I'll help you. That way I'm not blamed for your bad attitude afterwards."

"Well, you're all fixed up now. You'll be core but you can walk now, at least. I'd recommend not doing anything to strenuous though, like running the length of the town fifty times over..."

"...I don't run it fifty times... Just twice..." Kalie grumbled as Merring stood and started attending to Wyl.

"You okay, Kalie?" Bevil said leaning over her.

Kalie sighed, "I guess. Are you hurt?"

"No, not really." He extended his hand and helped Kalie to her feet. He grinned, "We beat the snot out of those guys, huh?"

Kalie smiled weakly, "Yeah, I suppose we did. Although Ward got the better of me, I think."

"You're an archer, not a swordsman, Kalie. Don't be too hard on yourself- you fought well." Webb said walking over, side-by-side with Amie.

"Are you sure you're okay, Webb? I really didn't mean to-" Amie sounded very concerned.

"No, really Amie, I'm fine. Relax, okay? Heh, I never knew wizards packed such a punch..." Webb chuckled.

"Webb! Stop Fraternizing With The Enemy!" Wyl's voice rang out.

Webb suddenly looked very nervous. "I, uh, I should, uh, go. Yeah. Uh, see you guys later... Bye Amie..." Webb ran off in a panic towards his brothers. Unable to hear what they were saying, the three friends (and Arty) stood watching the brothers' conversation. Wyl was doing a lot of yelling at Webb, and at one point he slapped him upside the head. Ward stared laughing at Webb, so Wyl turned on him, but Ward argued back, unlike Webb. Webb slowly started backing away from his short-tempered siblings, then took of like a shot. Wyl and Ward waved their fists in the air at him before giving chase, calling out curses all the while.

Amie snorted, "What a happy family, don't you think?"

"All I can say is: I'm glad I'm not related to them!" Kalie said

"Huh. Me too" Bevil agreed.

"Well come on you guys, we still have one more event before the harvest cup is ours!" Amie said, her mood changing dramatically.

"Technically Amie, we've already won the cup. WE only had to win three of the four events to claim it, remember?" Bevil responded.

"Yes but... Well, don't you want that 'special prize' that Georg was taunting us with?"

"We don't even know what it is!" Kalie interjected.

"So? I mean come on Kalie! What if we all go on some wild quest someday and we need magical items to-"

"Amie, even if we ever go adventuring, I don't think some lowly-enchanted items- as that would be the best this swamp has to offer- are going to help us much" Kalie pointed out.

"Well, then let's do it for the glory and pride of accomplishing something worthwhile in our pathetic little lives. After all, no one has won all four events since Cormick- and that was 17 years ago!" Bevil said.

Kalie sighed "Alright, you have a point. Come on guys- for glory!" Amie and Bevil laughed at her.

"Well, let's go get our stuff back from Merring then, come on." Bevil said.

..:::..

"Thank you for the ride, sir." Merin said as she and the man in the red cap climbed out of the car.

"You are quite welcome, young lady. May I ask you of your name, 'case I see you around?" The man pulled a cane from the backseat and leaned on it while grabbing his briefcase.

"Er... My name is Merin Kross, Mr...?"

"My name is a bit hard to pronounce for you people here, it seems, but you may call me Mr. Issek."

"Issac?"

"No, no- Issek" He sighed, "As I said, difficult to pronounce."

"No, just difficult to grasp. Well, I've got to go now Mr. Issek. Thanks again. I hope I'll see you around" Merin called over her shoulder as she ran to her class.

Issek waved to the girl as she ran off, quietly saying, "No, I don't think you will see me for a while, my dear, but I will be there so do not fret..."

"Well I suppose that's just one of life's many mysteries- kind strangers." Merin pondered this as she hurried down the hallway to her first class.

"Merin! There you are, we've been waiting all morning!" Katrina stated as she saw Merin approach.

"Yeah, hurry or we'll be late" Tiffany added.

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting. Come on, let's hurry."

After completing not only that first class, but two others as well, Katrina, Tiffany and Merin sat down to lunch in the commons area next to the school cafeteria.

"So, what kept you from school this morning, Merin?" Tiffany questioned.

"Hmm, maybe it was a man...!" Katrina giggled.

"No! It was the stupid traffic. We live in New York after all..." Merin corrected.

"Traffic? I thought you walk to school?" Tiffany asked.

"I do, but... Well, I got a lift..."

"Oh, so there was a man! Do tell!" Katrina giggled again.

Merin sighed, "You're insufferable, you know that Katrina?" No, one of the teachers here gave me a ride."

"Really? Who? I can't think of any of my teachers that would care enough..." Tiffany said.

"Um, Mr. Issek. I don't have him for any of my classes, but he said he's seen me around here so..."

"Issac?" Katrina questioned.

"No, Issek. It's ok, that was my reaction too."

"Can't say I've heard of him. What about you, Tiffany?"

"Nope. What does he teach?"

"I don't know, I forgot to ask."

"Well... Was he cute?" Katrina asked.

"God, Katrina! Is that all you can ever think about?" Tiffany wondered aloud.

"Of course not! But we're three beautiful women all lacking respectable boyfriends. I just thought that maybe-"

"I think that's quite enough, Katrina, and for your information: He was really old. So unless you dig older men..." Merin trailed off to finish her point.

"Eww! No way!" Katrina repealed from the table. Merin surmised that Katrina had finished her line of questioning now, and they could return to a peaceful lunch. But how long would Merin's peace with friends last? Not for the whole day, that much is certain.

..:::..

"Gather round, folks, gather round!" Georg called out from the stage set up in-lue-of the Harvest Fair. Kalie, Bevil, and Amie, along with Artemis of course, stood behind him, grinning uncontrollably. Not only had they won the Harvest Cup, but all four events- a feat not accomplished in seventeen years.

"This Harvest Fair's a celebration, but it's also a dark anniversary. We all know what else happened on this day. Not so long ago we nearly lost this village. Almost lost our lives, almost lost it all! But we came back. Cleared burnt farms, buried our dead, and put our ashes behind us. And we rebuilt, tougher and stronger than ever. Long as there's a Harvest Fair, we won't forget that day. And our young folks, they'll stay tough, so long as they compete for the Harvest Cup! So let's hear it for this year's winners!" Georg motioned Kalie and her friends forward. "Three cheers for the Harvest Champions!" The crowd of gathered villagers erupted in applause.

Bevil clapped Kalie and Amie on their shoulders. "We did it guys- er girls...!"

Kalie and Amie laughed. "That we did Bevil, that we did" Amie said.

Scanning the crowd Kalie found Wyl and Ward leaning against a nearby house, nearly hidden by the shadows. "Sulking, undoubtedly..." Kalie thought. Looking again though, she could just make out Wyl's face and he was... smirking? Kalie looked over a little ways and found Webb standing not far off from his brothers and he was quite literally bouncing with excitement and enthusiasm. "Well, maybe I was wrong then..." She smiled and waved to the three brothers. All three waved back.

Bevil burst up laughing. "Am I seeing things or did the Mossfelds just wave at us?"

"No you saw right" Amie shrugged a bit, "Maybe they've seen the error of their ways and are trying to make amends?"

"I doubt it" Bevil replied.

"Here Kalie, this belongs to you and your friends." Georg handed her the trophy, the harvest cup, and Kalie held it aloft for the villagers to see. The exploded in another burst of applause. "Well I think you all need a well deserved rest. Day's almost gone anyways. Go on, get home. We'll have a celebration for you three tomorrow." The three friends made their way off the stage and back through the crowd. They had people clapping them on the shoulders and patting their backs the whole way. Artemis was trying not to get stepped on. As they neared the end of the crowd, the Mossfelds stepped in front of the three friends. The last time a confrontation like this happened, the main hall and Georg's house nearly burned down. They were like rival gangs, always ready to go on the attack, and everyone knew how much they hated eachother. The crowd grew so quiet and still that even from that distance Kalie could hear Georg whisper, "Gods, not again. I'd better put an end to this before something really happens..." But the six kids knew better.

After a momentary pause, Wyl walked forward and starred down at Kalie, his eyes emotionless. Then, suddenly, he reached over and hugged her... and then quickly pulled away. "Congrats, Thell."

Kalie stood unable to speak. She had been expecting an apology, but not that. Ward started laughing so hard at the look on her face he nearly fell over. Amie and Webb started laughing too while Wyl just smirked at the Half-Elf. Bevil didn't look particularly pleased. The gathered crowd let out a very obvious sigh of relief, as most people had been holding their breath. Georg started laughing at the irony of it all.

"Hey, uh, Amie?" Webb stuttered.

"Yeah?"

"Do you, uh... Do you think we could, like, um, hang out some time?"

Amie grinned. "Yeah, sure. I'd like that Webb."

Webb seemed to regain some courage. "R-Really? Wow... I mean- Yeah, alright, sounds cool. I'll, uh, see you around then!" Amie laughed at him.

"Huh. Would you look at that. Little Webb's got a girlfriend. Never thought I'd see the day..." Wyl smirked. Ward erupted in another fit of laughter.

"W-Wha? Hey! Wyl! Ward- it's not funny!" Webb pouted.

"No you're right, it's not." Ward said as he sobered up a bit. "After all, now you both have girls and I'm left all alone here."

"Ward you ass!" Wyl's joking look and tone was now completely gone. Bevil still didn't look any very happy.

"What? It's just the truth." Ward said shrugging.

"Hugging someone doesn't make them your girlfriend, you dolt! Besides, Bevil's already got claims on her."

That was Bevil's last straw. He grabbed Kalie and Amie's arms as he walked past, muttering through gritted teeth, "We. Are. Leaving. Now."

"Aw look, Starling's all angry at us now. Ah well." Wyl was acting like he was trying to taunt him, but displeasure was evident in his voice no matter how much he tried to hide it. Bevil did not respond nor turn around to face Wyl. He simply kept walking, although his shoulders became visably tenser.

"Bevil? Why..." Kalie began.

Bevil cut her off, "He just pisses me off, ok? I don't like being around them. Webb is usually ok, but still..." He was still practically dragging the girls behind him.

"Bevil, they don't mean us any harm. I think we should just give them a chance..." Amie protested.

"They're the Mossfelds, Amie! Don't you remember all those awful things they did to us as kids?"

"I... Well..."

"Well nothing. Do you still think they honestly deserve another chance?" Amie was silent. Kalie gently squeezed Bevil's hand and he let go of his friends.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow, alright? We can sort this all out after we've had a good night's rest." Kalie turned toward the bridge that led to her foster father's house and walked away from her friends. Artemis followed close behind in absolute silence. Kalie held open the door for her cat and then proceeded to follow the feline up the stairs to the bedrooms. Deaghun wasn't sitting in his chair but Kalie never even noticed. Even if he had been there she still wouldn't have said anything to him, and he wouldn't have either. They lived in the same house it was true, but they had never had anything to do with each other.

Kalie flopped onot her bed and pulled her boots off, lazily throwing them to the other side of the small room as she watched Artemis jump up onto the loft Kalie and Bevil had built for her to play on as a kitten. The great cat curled up yawned a goodnight to her mistress as she closed her eyes. Kalie did a half-turn while still laying on her back with one knee pulled upwards, and clutched her ankle.

Artemis and Deaghun were the only ones who knew what was there beneath her hand. Arty didn't really care, and Deaghun wouldn't talk about it, so it was a secret. Right the joint in her ankle was a tattoo. Kalie didn't know what it was or how she had gotten it, but she had had it as long as she could remember. Kalie sincerely hoped it was some clue left to her by her mother, but she didn't think she would ever know for sure.

Kalie whispered into the night, "I won the Harvest Cup today, Mommy. Are you proud of me?" The wind outside rattled her widow slightly, but to the already half-asleep Half-Elf, it sounded like a pair of clapping hands. She slowly drifted off to sleep without even changing into her bedclothes. Little did she know that her whole life would soon be turned upside down, and the beginning was slowly creeping through the swamp at that very minute. Change, was waiting right outside the window.