Hey. This is my first ever fanfiction. Disclaimer is Tamora Pierce owns everything. I'm only just getting used to the whole upload / download / edit / writing thing. Please read and review.
Uursoae had vanished. So, too, had that infinite blackness, and the ultimate light. Daine knelt on pale marble, in the centre of a vast courtyard rimmed with graceful columns and dotted with fountains. Half of the sky overhead was dark and blazed with stars; the other half showed daylight, with a sun just past noon.
Mithros sank into a golden chair with a sigh and gave his spear to a young, blond boy in a blue tunic. Beside the sun lord a black cat slumbered in a silver chair. The Great Goddess tried to shoo it away but the cat refused to take the hint. At last the goddess moved the animal. Set on the marble court, the cat sniffed audible and trotted over to Daine.
She held out a hand for it to sniff. It did so, examined her with bright purple eyes. "Aren't you a fair pretty cat! You've got eyes like Lady Alanna", Daine whispered so that just the cat could hear her. The cat nodded, then sat in front of her and began to wash. All around them, gods settled in chairs, or on fountain rims or benches.
Cloud's ears pricked, and the horse snorted. She could sense that her girl master was somewhere…not earthly. She snorted again and began to pace. Mangle soon caught on and paced two and fro inside the small barn as well. The hostler decided to let them out, he knew his orders were to keep them inside while the war was going on, but they could easily break down the gate if they wanted. So, praying to the horse lords that he wouldn't be caught by the girl who could speak to animals, he let them out. He cried out in alarm as the two horses immediately galloped to the paddock fence, and swore when they jumped it and headed into the forest.
Unknown to the hostler, Cloud and Mangle were in search for Numair. Cloud whinnied, desperate to find the tall mage in hope he could return Daine. The pair tried to listen for signs of the two-legger, and very soon they spotted a strange cloud of smoke in the sky. Mangle raced towards it, Cloud following closely. They came across a clearing, scattered with bodies. Making their way through the dead, they searched the area for the mage.
"Whoever you are, if you're here to kill me, you'll need to do it while I remain prone," said a familiar voice nearby. "Have the decency to be quick about it, so I can get back to my rest."
Mangle followed the sound, and Numair looked at his horse in surprise. Mangle was the last thing he had been expecting; nevertheless he heaved himself to his feet and looked around. Upon seeing Cloud his hopes soared, and he searched the trees for his student. "Daine?" he called, but no reply came. If anything had happened to her…he forced the 'what if' thoughts out of his head and sighed, summoning some strength he didn't know he had, he mounted his own horse. Mangle, sensing his master's weakness, headed slowly back the way he had come.
Kitten was the first to notice the two horses arriving, carting the tall mage who was slumped over mangle's back. Alanna looked too when Kitten chirped shrilly and hurried down the stairs to greet them. Alanna soon followed, her face pale and set to find her friend dead. She reached him, and lifted his face towards her own. She gasped as he smiled dazedly at her, "you're alive" she whispered. "Yes," he replied, struggling to sit up, "I was rescued by these two wonderful creatures" he said smiling and patting Mangle's rump. Alanna helped him down.
"Daine?" he asked, concern and hope in his eyes.
Alanna hesitated, "We don't know. She went after Ozorne about two hours ago, and no one has heard from her since. The hostler says Cloud has been pacing though, it's as though she senses something is wrong."
Numair caught his breath. He had to find her, she couldn't be…he stopped himself thinking the worst just in time and turned around to remount. Alanna stopped him, "Numair, you're too weak and there are enemy soldiers out there, wait until George or Onua is free, then I'll come too."
"The longer I wait, the worse it could be" he replied and continued to mount.
"Oh! You overgrown, pretentious…ok, I'll come with you." Alanna said furiously fetching her own horse.
George, who had been watching from the doorway intercepted her. "Nay me-lass, I'll come too, I can't have anyone picking you off your own horse and leaving a weak mage unguarded." Alanna punched him gently, relief on her face.
Numair smiled grimly as they set out silently. They trotted their horses, Cloud trailing them. They had only been gone for an hour when he sniffed the air. We're near the sea. If they went over it, I might not be able to find her. He thought to himself. Even he himself knew that he was too weak to transform into an eagle to scour the seas. Suddenly a piercing scream filled the forest, and Numair wrenched himself from his musings. He knew that scream belonged to Daine and his face went pale. He had to find her. He and Mangle sped towards where the scream had come from. Alanna and George followed closely. It was not long before Numair spotted the giant stormwing in a pile on the ground. He jumped off Mangle and lifted the stormwing's face to his own, to find himself staring at the face of Ozorne, braids stuck to streams of blood. Numair threw his enemy down and looked frantically around the clearing they were in. He looked back down at the body of Ozorne and noticed some feet sticking out from underneath. His heart went cold, and he heaved the stormwing off the girl. He gasped when he saw Daine, naked and bloody. Quickly, he took of his cape and wrapped around the bare girl. Alanna and George knelt beside him. Alanna lifted one of Daine's hands. It was bleeding profusely. Numair grabbed the other one, and tried to wrap it in some spare cape, but nothing would stop the bleeding. He hugged Daine, her hands falling limply to her sides. George held Alanna's hand as they watched the distraught man hug his dying love.
Numair raise his head, face pale, and looked at Alanna, "Is she…will she live?" he asked. Alanna stretched her magic over the body and Daine's body glowed purple. Alanna looked at him. "She's alive, but its like, it's like her mind's not there. She's not unconscious, she's just not…not there." She said confused. Numair looked back at the girl.
A voice, Daine's voice, filled their heads; "Aren't you a fair pretty cat! You've got eyes like Lady Alanna", They stared at each other trying to comprehend what had happened. "Did you hear that?" Numair whispered as the others nodded. They looked back down at the lifeless girl. "But how…" Numair said astounded, and then comprehension dawned on his face. "She's in another realm!" he said hurriedly, "She's alive! We can hear her speak, because somehow I guess we have interrupted divine channels. When she thinks we should hear that in our heads too! We are in such close range…and you have such strong magic Alanna…I guess we are picking up her thoughts and words! I've heard of this happening before, such as in the time of Osric the wanderer who…" Numair cut himself off, suddenly aware that Daine was not here to scold him for rambling. He looked down at the girl, he knew history would be of no help right now.
Alanna and George stared at each other in disbelief. "Thank the goddess" Alanna whispered, tightening her grip on her husband's hand. "She's alive! But…how do we get her back?"