Not only was the guy totally unfamiliar, in the most exotic garb she had ever seen, but she was no longer in her own home. Kari spun around, tearing the purple headphones off of her head, taking in her surroundings: the high stone walls, the many people (all of whom had stopped to stare at her) standing about. The man she had bumped into was hastily replacing a mask that she had accidentally knocked off. He started yelling at her in a language Kari didn't even recognize.

"What? I don't understand- Hey!" Two men- both in old-fashioned military uniforms- grabbed her arms from behind. People all around her were babbling at her in that same language. "Let me go- I don't understand- please, where- ow, hey!" This was a complete *nightmare.* Kari wanted to cry, scream, and faint, all at the same time. A large, white form pushed it's way through the crowd. A horse? How odd.

:Everyone, STOP!: she heard a voice "yell" in her mind. Everyone quieted down. :She can't understand you. She doesn't know why she's here or how she got here, but she is certainly of no threat to Valdemar or the Alliance.: The horse came up to Kari and nuzzled her. The- guards?- behind her let go of her. She stood there, uncertain what to do. :Oh beloved, lean against me. You've been through a terrible ordeal; no one will blame you for a few moments of weakness,: the horse "said." Somehow, Kari knew this was for her "ears" alone. She complied, pressing her face into his silky mane. :My name is Saivryl, and I Choose you, dearheart. I will never leave you, even if I have to hop through worlds to stay with you. I have been waiting for you for a very long time. Now sleep, until you heal enough to face this strange world.: Kari felt herself slipping into the gentle, comforting darkness of a dreamless sleep.

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Kari kept her eyes firmly shut when she woke again. 'It was all a dream,' she told herself sternly. 'I'm not in Valdemar, I didn't run into Firesong, I wasn't Chosen, no Companions spoke in my head. It was all a dream. I have to get up now, if I want to get to rehearsal on time. Kenny will never speak to me again if I'm late again.' Even with all of her admonishes, Kari couldn't bring herself to open her eyes. What if it *was* real? How could she get used to living in a world so alien to her own? And wouldn't Firesong be terribly vexed with her? He had always been one of her favorite characters in the books; it would be absolutely unbearable if he hated her.

:Open your eyes, silly goose. Everyone's been waiting for you!: Saivryl told her cheerfully. :Today, we're going to help you settle in the Collegium for your indefinite stay in Haven. Now's the time to rise and shine!:

Kari reluctantly opened her eyes to find herself in a room, on the ground floor of a building, colored with a soft, soothing green. A big, white head poked in through the open window. She relayed her fears to Saivryl. He was quiet for a moment; he seemed to be listening to something.

:Firesong sends his apologies for frightening you, little one. He hopes that *you* will forgive *him.* There, no harm done.:

"Oh, well, please tell him that I'm dreadfully sorry for bumping into him, I didn't realize."

:He knows, kitten. And as for your other fears, well, what can I say? This is entirely unprecedented. All I can tell you is that you'll have to adjust. That's not much, and it will be hard, but I have faith in you. Now, I have a dreadfully big favor to ask of you.:

Kari's interest was piqued. "What could I possibly do? Just name it; if I can, I'll do it."

Saivryl seemed uncomfortable. :Well, I need you to open your mind fully to me. You don't have time to learn Valdemaran the traditional way. This way I can place it right in your mind.:

"Of course 'Vryl. Just show me what to do."