Chapter 2 by filly8

What is that supposed to mean? I thought to myself as I walked outside to go get some breakfast for the group. Was someone going to get hurt? I hoped not. I have enough to deal with now. Oh well, I guess I'll have to wait and see. No use worrying about it now. Still in thought, I mumbled to the baker asking for a couple apple fritters and headed back home. By the time I got back, I was expecting people to start showing up soon. So I straightened up the room real quick. As I finished, Aniki, Erskan and Kora walked in carrying more breakfast foods. With a quick 'Hello how are you?', we all sat down on the floor and spread the food in front of us, beginning to eat. Pounce hopped off the bed with a 'mrow' as if offended that we started without him.

I jumped up into a fighting stance as I suddenly felt an arm wrap around my shoulders and a body come beside me. But realized it was just Rosto and sat back down with a glare in his direction, getting back into the conversation.

"…Think that Throatroot works way better then Sachhorn but..." I tuned out again as I realized what they were talking about and turned to Rosto.

"So I heard you had some challengers for the throne already," I commented making small talk.

"Yeah I did but don't worry yourself. They did not leave a scratch on me," he said with an arrogant tone mixed with teasing.

"Don't get your hopes up Rosto. I said no rushers and stop being so con-" I broke off my sentence as my door burst open and a tall brown haired cove walked in. He seemed familiar, but I couldn't place him. He did not seem to have the same problem with a shout of 'Beka!', he ran over to me and only stopped dead with a knife at his throat. Courtesy of Rosto.

"Who are you and how do you know Beka?" Rosto sounded so cold. It almost made me shiver at the intensity of it, but the man ignored Rosto and looked at me with a slightly scared look in his green eyes. Then it hit me who he was.

"Nate? Is that you?" I asked with uncertainty. Then I looked at Rosto, whom was tense and still was holding the knife to Nate's throat. "Rosto release him. Please, it's okay."

"Beka! It is me. I can't believe I found you!" Nate said while he walked toward me and hugged me.

"Nate, I can't believe your back! How have you been? How did you know I was here?" I yelped with excitement and hugged him back. I broke out of it when a loud cough was heard. Rosto, Aniki, Erskan, and Kora stood behind me with expressions ranging from happiness to anger. Why did Rosto have such an angry look on his handsome face? Mmm… I'd have to look into that one.

"Oh sorry, this is Nathan Williams one of my oldest friends. Nate this is Rosto, Aniki, Erskan, and Kora," I said pointing to each of them as I said their names. A moment of surprised silence still hung in the air. Kora was the first to break it.

"Oh. Well then, hello Nathan or Nate. Which do you prefer?" Kora asked before Nathan's 'Please use Nate' did she continued. "Well as Beka said, I am Kora. I'm a pretty good wash women and hedge witch. I am a decent Healer and fairly good at charms," she said in a shy tone of voice while still breaking the silence. Aniki decided it was her turn.

"Well Nate, I am Aniki and a Swordswoman and…" she then Erskan continued on while I took the time to look Nate over.

He was a tall cove with a lean body structure and had a rich brown colored mop of hair on his nob along with striking green eyes. He also had slightly feminine features with high cheekbones and a 'delicate' nose. As I finished up observing, I noticed Erskan had finished and Rosto was yet to speak.

"Rosto?"

Disclaimer: I don't own Terrior, Bloodhound, or any of Tamora Pierce's characters. I don't even own this plot and some of the characters. It belongs to filly8 and them as in characters belong her as well.

A/N: This story is all filly8's and I'm taking it over. After the fourth chapter, it will be all my writing. With the ones I'm posting, I'm just making minor changes. Nothing big. Enjoy it though. It will be a good story. I hope.