Chapter 1
The battle The Gatewatch endured was more exhausting then Chandra had expected. As she looked in the mirror in Nissa's small bathroom she finally saw how destroyed she looked and understood the worry she had seen in Nissa's eyes. She remembered hearing screaming and knowing it was her own voice. There were points where she didn't know if it was from rage or pain. But it was when Nissa had fallen from the effort to control the leyline that Chandra had felt so helpless and afraid. Since the day they met Chandra had a deep desire to protect and care for Nissa. She was her best friend and closest confidant. She had been in love with Nissa from almost day one. There was just something captivating about the slender elf that made her feel completely at peace whenever she was with her. She had never gotten up the courage to tell Nissa how she felt. Nor did she know if Nissa was even interested in women. She had never seen her in a romantic relationship with anyone. Not that Chandra had a list of names herself. In fact she had no names. She had never been with anyone. She had projected a show of confidence and expertise in that department that was a front to hide her insecurities and self doubt. She had held Nissa so close after she collapsed desperate to protect her from the battle and selfishly because if anything happened she wanted to feel the elf in her arms at least one time before Nissa was gone from this world.
Gideon had offered to make sure Nissa would be safe while she fell back for cover. But Chandra would be damned if she would leave her side now. He came running back to the others, as the crowd of creatures pressed closer.
"I'll watch over her until she wakes up. You two planeswalk back to safety." He said.
Chandra, hands ablaze. "Not gonna happen. We're all walking out of here together, or..." Her bravado faded with her trailing words.
"Or not at all," Jace supplied. "Together or not at all?"
Chandra gave him a look that answered his question with finality.
Liliana had showed up just at the right time then to help, but just as they were about to shift planes Chandra had caught a unlucky energy ball to her back. She had seen the abomination in its death throes trying to get one last shot in at The Gatewatch. She had encircled Nissa the best she could to protect her but took the brunt of the blow to her back and shoulder as they shifted plains. With a resounding grunt she remembered hitting the ground sprawled on her back on the other side. She as still holding Nissa in her arms and thought 'Worth. It.' the pain ripped through her then and everything seemed to go dark around the edges. She heard Nissa's voice as the elf yelled "She did what!" "She was protecting you" Jace explained his hands in the air as a gesture of peace. Then softer and so very close to her ear that Chandra could feel the heat of her breath. "I swear to Gaea if you don't wake up 'Spark' I will kick your chain mail ass" She could hear the small smile in the animists voice, but also felt something hot and wet on her face as Nissa pressed her forehead to hers. Nissa was crying, she tried to say something back but the darkness claimed her then.
When I woke up I had been sleeping in Nissa's small bed in the tree house she had created to live in while The Gatewatch had planned and trained. I could see Nissa across the room her eyes closed in meditation. She was ok and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Quietly I crossed the room not wanting to disturb Nissa. I new the place well and had no trouble finding the bathroom to asses the extent of the damage. I was stiff and sore and I could see the bruise across my shoulder under my tank top. The pain was bad enough I almost couldn't move my arm. I decided I should try to check out the whole area and clumsily tried to take my tank top off over my head. I grumbled and let out a small quite embarrassing squeak of pain. I heard a crash and footsteps, just as I turned around I saw a very concerned Nissa in the doorway. "You gave me a heart attack Spark! I'm glad your up, but what are you doing?" She said as she walked closer. "I was just trying to survey the damage, but I'm a little creaky at the moment. I can't get my shirt off to look." I said. "Here let me" Nissa said as she came in closer behind me, and started to untuck my shirt from my leggings." I was suddenly flushed and embarrassed, I could feel the pink spreading across my face and to the tips of my ears. "Nis, I... it's o, ok ah, I can look at it later, no worries" Nissa gently turned me so that I was facing her. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of the both of us in profile in the mirror. I looked like complete garbage. My red hair was snarled and coming lose from the braid over my shoulder. There were fresh scratches across the right side of my nose and a purple green bruise on my chin. Nissa looked beautiful as always, her slender pointed ears held a perfect circlet of wild flowers. Her haunting green on green eyes always seemed to dance with energy. And her dark hair made her pale skin look almost luminescent. Today she did look tired though, like a large weight had been pressing down on her. Her normally perfect braid even looked a bit mussed although not nearly as much as mine...wait a minute I don't braid my hair I thought as my mind wandered. I was suddenly brought back to reality when Nissa softly said my name. "Chandra?" It startled me a bit, I was so used to her calling me by the nickname she had given me 'Spark'. "Maybe you should lie back down? Where did you go just now?" Nissa asked "You looked like you were in a different world just now." "No, no I'm ok just a little foggy is all." I replied with a too obvious fake laugh. Nissa smiled and then reached to finish untucking my tank top. When her hand met my waist again it was like someone had fired the blush cannons and I felt my self trembling a tiny bit under her touch. I silently prayed to the fates that Nissa couldn't feel it. "Spark? Are you embarrassed to let me see you with your shirt off? Your shaking." Well screw you too fates, you couldn't let me have this one? I mentally chided them. "I, I, jussst..." I attempted to stammer a response. "You do know I have seen you completely naked before, right?" Nissa asked. Oh for the love of ale... I had thought I had blocked that night out and more over I didn't realize Nissa had caught the show. Liliana and I had been matching each other stein for stein one night and when I was good and blurry she dared me to take a naked dip in the stream by camp. I didn't take into account how much better at drinking the century old necromancer would be. It turned out that Liliana had not only wanted to see me naked that night but other plans for me as well. I couldn't turn down a dare, my ego is unstoppable sometimes. She had kissed me as we stood in the water. It felt exciting and nice at first I almost gave in to it, but my head cleared a bit and I pulled away. In my heart she wasn't who I wanted to be with. Liliana had guessed it, I hadn't planned on telling her. But she understood and with a wink she mimed locking her lips and throwing away the key. She had never brought it up again.
"You saw that!?" "Spark" Nissa replied. "Like all of it?" "Spark" Nissa tried again. "Just me naked? Did you...?" "Chandra!" Nissa raised her voice and grabbed my wildly gesturing hand in hers. I abruptly stopped my runaway mouth and tried to meet her eyes with mine. "I was coming back from meditating just over the hill by the stream. It wasn't like I was stalking you or anything. I saw you and Liliana as you came up from under the water. The sound caught my attention. I saw you kiss and was going to leave to give you two privacy... but you rather quickly headed for shore. You were standing in the moon light, and it was a full moon that night so it was kinda hard to miss." Nissa explained. Then it was Nissa's turn to look a little embarrassed. "I, uh didn't mean to stare or anything, but yes I have seen you naked". Knowing that Nis had seen me naked and worse maybe had seen me kiss Liliana my voice got very quiet. "Ok, I ok" I said. I turned my back to her and she finished untucking my tank top. My skin felt like fire where her hands brushed my back as she the fabric up over my head and gingerly over my bruised shoulder. I reflexively covered my chest with my arms and gave a small yelp in pain when I moved my bad arm to quickly. "Chandra, breath ok?" I sucked in a shaky breath and let my arms fall to my sides. Nissa ran her fingers lightly over the battered part of my back and shoulder. I was so lost in the sensation I almost didn't hear her start talking again. "I, this is a little worse then I thought. I couldn't really see when you were out. I didn't want you to wake up half naked, but I could only see so much with your shirt in the way." Nissa explained. I could feel her slender fingers as they ran the length of my shoulder again. Was it my imagination or did it seem like Nis was trying to keep her hands on me as long as possible? When she touched where my shoulder met my arm I couldn't ignore the pain. "Ow damn it!" I cursed. Nissa froze. "Nis no, not at you. It is just really tender there. Sorry" I apologized. "Spark, it's ok. But I think it's out of the socket. I'm not strong enough to put it back. I'm going to have to get Gideon." She said. I reached for my shirt, I sure as hell didn't need Gideon seeing me topless. She put her hand over mine to stop me."But Nis I, I..." I said as I tried to find a gesture to explain my hesitation. "Hold on just a sec, I have something that will work" She said as she left the room. She came back in holding a deep green, very silky robe. I recognized it immediately. I had seen her in it a few times after bathing in the stream, her hair still damp. I had always wondered if it felt as soft as it looked. She placed it over my shoulders and I easily slid my injured arm in the flowing sleeve as she tied the front closed. "I'm not sure how easy it will be to get your shirt on or off after Gideon puts your shoulder right. This will make your injury easier to tend too." She said. Nissa's eyes met mine. "Thank you" I said. "It looks nice on you, fitting." She smiled and then was gone to get Gideon's help. What was that supposed to mean? I thought and then I shifted my weight and felt the fabric move against my skin. It felt amazing, like wearing water. But the best part was how Nissa's smell enveloped me. It was like fresh wild flowers and that smell right after a spring rain all mixed together. It made me a little light headed and flush, I actually had to use my good arm to steady myself.
Gideon's voice shook me out of my daydream. "Chan? You ok there?" He asked "Ya, ya. Just in a bit of pain here Gids." I grimaced with my response. "Well Nissa said it looked dislocated. Turn around and let me take a look." I did as Gideon instructed and loosened the tie on the robe so the fabric slid down my shoulders while keeping my modestly intact. Gideon let out a low whistle. "Ya, that's a bad one. I'm not going to lie kid, this is really going to hurt. You may be out of commission for awhile." I wanted to protest or complain, but I stopped myself. It didn't matter, I would do this a hundred thousand times if it meant I had protected Nissa. So I just nodded yes. "Well let's get to it then" Gideon said as he walked out of the bathroom and into Nissa's small sitting room. Nissa helped me get the robe back over my shoulders and grabbed my hand in hers. Her eyes met mine again and I could see the worry there. "It's going to be ok" she said softly. All I could do was nod, I was afraid I would start to cry if I did anything else. We followed Gideon out, but she didn't let go of my hand. If anything she held it tighter. "Ok sit down here." He said as he gestured to a chair that looked like it had grown up from Nissa's vine woven floor. "So Chan your a little to strong for me to do this and hold you down. Nissa, if you wouldn't mind?" He asked looking expectantly at her. Nissa smiled sheepishly and two green vines from the chair wrapped over my thighs holding me in place. "Well I'm sure that comes in handy with unruly guests, doesn't it?" Nissa smiled at my sarcasm and I relaxed my arm the best I could. Nissa's eyes never left mine, neither did her hand. "Ok on the count of three. One, two, three." Then there was a audible pop and white hot pain flooded over me. I didn't make a sound, I couldn't. I saw the tears that filled Nissa's eyes as she mouthed the words "I'm sorry." I didn't want her to know how much pain I was in. "Ok good, it looks like it went back in place perfectly. Ice, rest and try not to move it too much. That will help with the swelling. Nissa, she is going to need someone with her for at least the first few days. I trust I can count on you?" He asked. "Absolutely Gideon, I wouldn't have it any other way." She answered him keeping her eyes on mine. "Ok I will check back in soon. You did good Kid and I don't just mean this." And with that he was gone. The vines around my thighs loosened and wove back into the chair. Nissa helped me up and back to the alcove where her small bed was.