A/N: DISLCAIMER: Any thing, one, or place you may recognize belongs solely to Kristen Britain. Enjoy!

Prompt: Ty's Thoughts when a Rider is revealed to have Ereal's ability

Ty was grooming Crane in the stables when he heard the bell announcing an incoming Rider start ringing in the yard. He and Crane shared a look before he set the brush aside and let himself out of the stall. He was the only one in the area so he went out to greet the incoming Rider. Ty met Hep at the entrance to the stables and nodded to the stable master. A few minutes later a horse and Rider came trotting up into the yard. Ty recognized the rider as Ariella, a new Rider from L'Petrie province. Her red hair almost rivaled that of the Captain's. She had a bit more of an even keel than the Captain though. Of course, he would have recognized her even without the hair as she rode Yates's willowy, bay mare Phoebe. Ariella had arrived shortly before news of the Blackveil mission had reached them. When Phoebe was returned back to the castle, along with Condor, the two had formed an almost instant connection. It was still painful to see someone besides Yates on her back.

Ariella reined Phoebe up in front of them. Hep grabbed hold of the mare's bridle as Ariella swung down from the saddle. She was returning from a message run to a minor lord who lived in Adolind Province.

"Hey Ty," she greeted him, stretching her neck to work the kinks out. He noticed recent bruise on her collarbone that disappeared underneath the collar of her shirt and there was a newly healed cut that curved under her ear and disappeared into her hairline. He put a hand on her shoulder to stop her from going by him. She visibly flinched at the contact.

"Are you all right?" he asked her. Seeing her hesitate he added, "Don't lie to me. From the pace you came in, I know the message can wait."

Ariella sighed. She motioned for them to move inside the stables as Hep led Phoebe away. Ty followed her inside, leaning up against the wall while Ariella paced in the aisle way.

"I'm fine now, thanks to some unexpected events and a kind family who took me in for a night. I was just outside of Cira, a village about twenty miles south of Corsa. It was probably about an hour before sundown," she said in what the Captain called a "Messenger" voice. "Phoebe and I were riding along at a pretty good pace when these four guys came out of nowhere. They blocked the road and pulled me from the saddle before I even knew what was happening. They were so fast. Even Phoebe couldn't get free of them. One of them grabbed hold of her bridle while the other three pulled me out of the saddle before I could get to any of my weapons." Here Ariella paused as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Ty was watching her with a sick feeling. He could see where this conversation was going. He picked up the message satchel from where she had dropped it on the floor and turned it over in his hands as he waited for her to continue. He knew this was one of those kinds of things that you didn't push. It had gotten so quiet while he waited, that he nearly jumped out of his skin when started speaking again.

"Once they pulled me from the saddle, I fought them as best I could with it being three against one, but they were quite a bit stronger and dragged me into the woods. I did find out what my ability was though," she said with a rueful smile. Ty nodded in understanding. Riders never discovered their abilities under happy circumstances, usually when their lives were in immediate danger.

"I was lying there on the ground, trying to get away. I was looking for something to defend myself with when I saw a pretty sturdy limb lying about a foot from my hand. I was trying to reach for it, wishing it was closer when it suddenly moved into my hand. I took hold of it and clubbed two of the guys with it. They let me go and that was enough for me to get free and back to my feet. My other weapons were still with my saddle on Phoebe so I swung the limb with all my might at the third guy and hit him hard enough to knock him out. I ran for the road where Phoebe was trying to trample the other guy, but like I said, they were fast. I clobbered him with the limb then leapt into the saddle and rode like hell." She finished her tale then looked at Ty. Her brow knitted in concern, "Are you okay?"

Ty was staring at her, his face pale as he felt all the blood drain out of it. He forced himself to nod mechanically.

"Yeah, yeah, sorry. I'm glad you're alright Ariella. Make sure you go by the Mending Wing to get looked at after you drop off your messages."

"I will," she said taking her message satchel back from him. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," he assured her. "Listen, if you need someone to talk to, you come and find m."

She nodded, "Thanks Ty."

He watched her go before walking back to Crane's stall in a daze. Crane nudged his rider's shoulder as he sank down onto a trunk that was sitting outside the stall. He had known there was a possibility of someone getting Ereal's brooch, especially with the influx of new Riders, but he still hadn't been prepared for it. Every day, when he saw Crane he still thought of her. It was impossible not to.

Every time he saw a new Rider get their brooch, he wondered what their ability would be. It had been nearly three and a half years since Ereal was killed, and now someone had finally chosen her brooch, or rather her brooch chose them. He leaned his head back against the wall behind him. He had not expected how hard this would hit him. It was like seeing a ghost.

Crane rested his muzzle on Ty's shoulder. He reached over and patted the gelding's nose. Ty still had dreams, nightmares really, of the night that had paired them together. While the two had formed a deep partnership, Ty would still never forget the sight of Crane guarding Ereal's body or the blood that stained his own normally immaculate uniform after having to euthanize his own beloved mare Flicker.

She had died while using her ability to save another Rider. Now her ability had resurfaced in another Rider, saving that Rider's life. It was strange to see another Rider with an ability that had belonged to one of your friends; a friend who had been dead for three years. Somehow, he thought Ereal would have approved of Ariella having her ability. She would have liked the young woman.

A shadow fell over him and Ty looked over to see Connly standing there.

"Hey Ty, Mapstone's looking for you," he said. "You okay?" Connly asked his friend when he took a second look at him.

"Ariella has Ereal's ability," Ty told him.

Connly went completely still, "Oh."

Ty passed a hand over his face and nodded, "Yeah."