Many many cookies to Taeniaea for being my first reviewer…and many many cookies to Gruto for the kind words and for hearing my author's voice…something I don't hear…yet… ;-)

Italics: memories

"Dialogue"

'Inner thoughts'

Disclaimer: claymore doesn't belong to me. …WHY?Ooooo WHY?...

Chapter 2: evrostia

2 weeks later

A figure was lying on a bed. The sheets were made from many materials of different kind and color. Her wavy blond hair was all over the pillow. And then she opened her eyes, her silver eyes. She was inside a tent. Teresa, for the figure was Teresa tried to sit up, but her body didn't obey her, couldn't obey her.

Someone entered the tent. "O! You are awake, finally, I was starting to worry" a woman's voice was heard Teresa stared at her confused written all over her face. "You know you lost a lot of blood", the voice continued as she prepared a ball of water, clean pieces of fabric and a bandage leaving them next to Teresa's bed "even if you are a..you know what it was a real fight to keep you alive with all the blood loss and the….."

"Lena! Stop bubbling. She is still healing; she doesn't need your speech. Now, change her bandages and please leave, I wish to speak with her" someone said from his position on a chair. "Hai, Fegu-sama."

Lena approached Teresa, sitting next to her she took off the bandage that was covering her neck, washing the place and putting a new bandage. Suddenly Teresa grabbed her arm and tried to speak but her voice from lack of use didn't obey her. "…g…sh…..w…." "Stop, do not try to speak, let me get you some water" she left Teresa's side, filled a cup with cool water and then returned to her side. Teresa gulped down the water "there… was a girl… with me… she… where is she?" Teresa spoke with difficulty "There was no girl where we found you, just two dead claymores" Fegu said, "Lena if you are done, please leave" "Hai".

Lena packed her things and left the tent. Fegu grabbed the chair from where he was sitting on a far corner of the tent and brought it next to the bed. Now that he was near Teresa was able to figure some things about him, he had grey hair and an earring at his right ear, 'He seems familiar' Teresa thought.

"You are welcomed to stay here as long as you like" he spoke "I will leave…" "But…you will stay here at least until you regain your strength, this is all that I can do to repay you". "What are you talking about?"Teresa said confused. "The boy you saved in the town from the yoma was my son, I saw you, so that is the least I can do, rest for now, you are more resilient than humans but still that was a hell of a wound" he said and got up to leave "Wait, I have some questions" "not now, rest" and he left the tent.

Teresa closed her eyes 'Clare…Clare where are you, I cannot believe you are dead…no…please don't be dead' although Teresa knew that the awakened Priscilla most likely killed Clare, she refused to believe it. She prayed that by some miracle Clare was alive. Obeying to the will of her injured body and soul Teresa fell asleep, hoping she will heal faster.

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Teresa opened her eyes, sensing a presence in the room, turning her head she stared at a pair of round brown eyes, 'a boy' she thought. "ooooo, you are awake, my father said you will awake soon, so I will go and call him, bye" before Teresa was even able to say something the boy ran out of the tent. 'Okay, that was bizarre'. She started to rise from her lying position but was interrupted by footsteps.

The piece of fabric that was used as a door went aside and a lean figure stepped in, a woman from the looks of it. She was tall, with brown hair. "Hello, she spoke; my son told me that you are awake, do you want to eat? Or drink some water?" "That would be nice" "okay, wait a little bit and I will come back, in the mean time wear these clothes, she said giving her some clothes, I think they will suit you, but don't try to sit up you will get dizzy, if you want help wait till I come back" "I think I'll manage" "okay" Serach said and left. 'So that was the kid's mother' 'where am I? Who are they?' these questions plagued Teresa's mind. Teresa wore the clothes with some difficulty but she did eventually. The clothes were nice, simple and easy to move. A simple white shirt and a brown leather like blouse. The pants were also brown, although a darker shade and a belt was on her waist.

The woman entered the tent again carrying a basket filled with apples, grapes, blackberries and figs. "You look nice. I didn't introduce myself, forgive me for my rudeness, I am Serach the leader's wife, and may I have your name?" she asked with kind voice, "I am Teresa, where am I?" "You are with a caravan, we are nomads, we have stayed in the town you saved my child to sell and buy goods. We left while you were at that inn and then, while we were travelling towards another town we saw a big cloud of dust and debris, the animals were frightened and we couldn't calm them and then suddenly all quieted. We send some people to see what happened, my husband was one of them, they found you and brought you here, your belongings are inside that chest. You were unconscious for two weeks, but now I see you are well enough. I am glad" she said smiling.

"Thank you, Teresa said and she started to eat, I assume that now we are in another town?"

"Yes, our goal is the port town, north east from here; they have a variety of goods there"

Teresa finished her meal and she started to lift from the bed, Serach moved to help her holding her back. Teresa gave her a look of gratitude, swallowing her pride she said "I don't think I am able to fully rise from the bed, could you help me?" "Off course"

Serach placed Teresa's arm over her shoulder and supported her from the waist. She lifted Teresa who was dizzy from staying on a bed so long and now she was standing up. "Let's go outside, the fresh air will do you good"

They exited the tent, the light momentarily blinded Teresa. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized it must be a little before noon, her head turning towards the ground she saw tents of different size and colors all over the place. Big, small, round, oval, red, brown. 'Wow' she thought. She raised her head looking to the horizon and she managed to distinguish the buildings of the town. People passed her by, some smiling at her, some waving, some looking at her with curiosity and others with reserve. 'That is a change' "well, Teresa, how do you find our homes?" "It's…they are different, but nice different, I like it" she said with a smile, "I am glad" Serach said.

They walked towards some people sitting on some logs and large stones around a put out fire. As they were closing the people's heads turned towards them and their conversation ceased. Teresa recognized the leader, his son and the nurse. Serach helped her sit on a log. "Hello Teresa, happy to see you up and walking around" Fegu said "I am grateful for what you have done, but I have to leave soon, I stayed here for too long and I must leave to find someone" Teresa said. "The girl you spoke about?" "Yes, she is very dear to me and…"

"Teresa wait, when we found you there was no other bodies but two dead claymores, no one else, but, there was blood indicating a third body close to the others. Also, because of the ground that was so hard and rocks everywhere there was some difficulty to read the traces. But what we thought was a yoma closed something or someone, I assume your girl and knowing yoma…" Fegu stopped, leaving Teresa to realize alone what it could have happened.

Teresa moved slowly her head from side to side, denying herself to think that her Clare is dead.

"Teresa, I think that is too much you better return to rest" Serach said and Teresa nodded. They started walking the same way back. None spoke. Teresa was silent lost in her own mind and thoughts.

Teresa lied down, closing her eyes and falling back to sleep. Clare's face plaguing her dreams.

A/N:review please….and a giant cookie will await for you at the cyberspace…